Does a mortgage deferment hurt your credit?

Asked by: Miss Meghan Casper DDS  |  Last update: February 24, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (34 votes)

Deferring loan payments might let you skip or move several payments without affecting your credit scores. If you're struggling to afford payments and think you might miss one soon—or you've missed several payments and are trying to catch up—a deferment could help you get back on your feet.

Does mortgage deferment affect credit score?

While deferred payments don't directly impact your score, you don't want to rely heavily on them as a way to make your other payments. To maintain a healthy credit score, monitor your credit and find ways to adjust your budget so that you can get back into a routine of making regular payments.

What are the downsides to deferring a loan payment?

"If interest continues to grow on your loans during deferment, it will increase your total borrowing costs," says Kayikchyan. How much interest a lender charges you during the deferral period depends on several factors, like your annual percentage rate, your outstanding balance and how long your deferment lasts.

Is deferring mortgage payments a good idea?

A mortgage deferment after forbearance may be a good option if you know your financial hardship is temporary and you want to keep your home. Here are some things to consider as you determine if deferment is the right option for you: Do you have proof of financial hardship? Most lenders will require proof.

What is the disadvantage of deferment?

Disadvantages of a Deferment Period

During the deferment period, interest is being accrued. The overall loan balance is increased due to accrued interest. In some cases, borrowers are subject to additional fees. The borrower must prove they are experiencing financial hardship.

Does mortgage forbearance and deferment affect your credit?

41 related questions found

Which is better deferment or forbearance?

Both deferment and forbearance allow you to temporarily postpone or reduce your federal student loan payments. The difference has to do with interest accrual (accumulation). During a deferment, interest doesn't accrue on some types of Direct Loans. During a forbearance, interest accrues on all types of Direct Loans.

How many months can you defer a mortgage payment?

A payment deferral can move up to six monthly mortgage payments to be paid at the end of your loan. If you're able to start making payments again but are unable to pay an additional monthly amount, you may qualify for a payment deferral.

Does pausing a mortgage affect credit score?

If you negotiate a repayment pause with your lender, then missing repayments during that period of 3 to 6 months shouldn't affect your credit rating.

Can I stop my mortgage payments for a few months?

Mortgage forbearance is an option that allows borrowers to pause or lower their mortgage payments while dealing with a short-term crisis, such as a job loss, illness or other financial setback. This can help protect struggling borrowers from becoming delinquent with payments, as well as avoid foreclosure.

What are the consequences of deferment?

In most cases, interest will accrue during your period of deferment or forbearance. This means your balance will increase and you'll pay more over the life of your loan. If you're pursuing loan forgiveness, any period of deferment or forbearance may not count toward your forgiveness requirements.

Does freezing your mortgage affect your credit score?

While it's important to be aware of the potential impact on your credit rating, in most cases taking a mortgage holiday will not have a negative impact. Just be sure to speak to your lender and make arrangements before you miss any payments.

What are the disadvantages of a deferred payment?

Disadvantages of a Deferred Payment Agreement

Interest is usually applied on a compound basis. This means you'll pay interest on interest already incurred, as well as the care fees. This route is likely to reduce the amount of inheritance you can leave.

Do banks allow you to skip a mortgage payment?

A skip-payment mortgage is a home loan product that allows a borrower to skip one or more payments without any penalty. The interest accrued during the skipped periods will instead be added to the principal, and monthly payments will then be recalculated once they resume.

Is deferment a good idea?

Deferment: Generally better if you have subsidized federal student loans or Perkins loans and you are unemployed or dealing with significant financial hardship. Forbearance: Generally better if you don't qualify for deferment and your financial challenge is temporary.

Can I ask my mortgage company to skip a payment?

Forbearance is a process that can help if you're struggling to pay your mortgage. Your servicer or lender arranges for you to temporarily pause mortgage payments or make smaller payments. You still owe the full amount, and you pay back the difference later.

Is deferring mortgage payments bad?

No, deferred payments generally won't directly hurt your credit.

How long can you pause your mortgage?

You can ask for a hardship variation if you are in temporary hardship (3-6 months, sometimes up to 12 months). If you can't afford the mortgage long-term or your hardship is continuing for a long time and your lender is getting impatient, consider selling your home and ask for time to sell.

Can you skip a month on your mortgage?

First things first: Missing a single mortgage payment will not trigger foreclosure proceedings. Most lenders will not even consider foreclosure until borrowers miss two payments or are 90 days or more in arrears. However, that doesn't mean you can decide not to pay your home loan and expect everything to be fine.

What is the mortgage 3 month rule?

Section 17 allows a mortgagor (i.e. the borrower) to give the mortgagee (the lender) three months' notice of his or her intention to repay the mortgage debt or, in the alternative, pay three months' interest on the amount in arrears without any notice after a default.

What is the difference between deferment and forbearance?

A loan deferment is a temporary postponement of monthly loan payment(s). For subsidized loans, accrued interest will automatically be paid by the Department of Education if the loan is deferred. Forbearance is a temporary postponement of principal loan payments.

Does a mortgage forbearance affect your credit?

If your lender grants you relief from financial hardship in the form of loan forbearance, your credit scores should be unaffected as long as you stick to the agreed-upon schedule for resuming regular payments and making up payments you missed during the forbearance period.

Does loan deferment affect credit score?

You're not just opting out on your own: Your lender has approved the request to suspend your repayments. So, you are holding up your end of the agreement with your lender. Hence, the deferral will not directly hurt your credit score.

How many times can you defer a mortgage payment?

If you qualify for deferment, you can request one for up to 12 payment periods under most circumstances. However, you cannot ask for these deferments consecutively. Once you apply for one, you should wait at least a year before you request another one.

Is there a downside to forbearance?

Unless your loan servicer specifies otherwise, they will report your mortgage forbearance to the credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score because it shows a period when you weren't making mortgage payments.