The pandemic landscape is never short on surprises. And if you are a renter or landlord, the back and forth on eviction moratoriums may have left you confused.

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an order to temporarily halt residential evictions to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The order was set to expire on December 31, 2020, but was then renewed through March, June, and then July 31, 2021. And then, on August 3, 2021, the CDC announced a new limited eviction moratorium through October 3, 2021, for renters living in communities with a surge in COVID-19 cases. But the Supreme Court overturned the latest CDC order because it lacked Congressional action, effectively eliminating the federally-imposed eviction moratorium.

What’s next for renters and landlords? There are several federal rental assistance programs, including the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) fund, put in place to help tenants pay their rent, which are administered by the Treasury Department through states and local governments. While landlords may proceed with residential evictions, unless a state or local moratorium applies, they are also encouraged to first apply for ERA funds to cover their tenants’ rent obligations, which is beneficial to both the renter and the landlord. In a word, the federal government wants evictions for non-payment of rent to be a last resort, and wants renters, landlords, and the courts to use the federal funds first.

We know things have been different these past 18 months, especially in the Greater Dallas real estate industry. But our team at First United Mortgage is here to assist with your home financing needs in any way we can. As the market and economy start to stabilize, now is a great time to consider transitioning from renting to owning. We offer excellent mortgage programs for first time buyers, including FHA, VA and USDA loans. Give us a call today at (972) 591-3097 to learn more about your best options.