The waiting period officially begins on the date the foreclosure was completed—typically when the deed was transferred back to the lender or the property was sold at auction.
Buying a home after a foreclosure is generally a matter of waiting for a "seasoning period" to pass, which varies significantly by loan type. While a foreclosure stays on your credit report for , many government-backed programs allow you to qualify much sooner. Summary of Waiting Periods by Loan Type how long after a foreclosure can you buy a house