What are the negatives of forbearance?

Asked by: Vesta Adams  |  Last update: September 3, 2025
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Cons of Mortgage Forbearance Once the period is over, you're responsible for paying this amount. Potential for future financial strain. Forbearance can take some pressure off now, but homeowners whose financial situation doesn't improve by the time the forbearance period ends could find themselves even deeper in debt.

What are the consequences of forbearance?

Because interest accrues during forbearance periods, outstanding balances on fixed-rate mortgages can increase, adding to your total debt. This may have a potential negative impact on your credit scores, but this effect will likely diminish when regular loan payments resume.

What is the disadvantage of forbearance?

However, there are also risks in the borrower's inability to satisfy the terms of forbearance, negatively impacting their credit score. Additionally, the payment relief period will continue to accrue even more interest that is to be paid after the period is over.

Is forbearance good or bad?

If you lose your job and can't afford your mortgage, you can apply for mortgage forbearance to maintain homeownership without breaching the mortgage loan's terms. Forbearance may negatively impact your credit, but it can help you avoid foreclosure, which may be even more damaging to your credit score.

Is it bad if your loans are in forbearance?

With forbearance, you won't have to make a payment, or you can temporarily make a smaller payment. However, you probably won't be making any progress toward forgiveness or paying back your loan. As an alternative, consider income-driven repayment. You have a limited amount of forbearance available.

Pros and Cons of Mortgage Forbearance - Should you use savings instead of doing forbearance

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How long can your house be in forbearance?

Some servicers will extend forbearance for as long as 12 months, or in some cases, even longer. You'll need to speak to the servicer to get approval for a second or extended forbearance period.

Does forbearance negatively affect credit score?

Forbearance itself doesn't have a direct impact on your credit score, as long as you keep up with your payments as agreed (i.e., making reduced minimum payments or resuming regular payments once forbearance is over).

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.

Is a forbearance plan a good idea?

Key Takeaways. Mortgage forbearance offers homeowners immediate financial relief but has some long-term consequences. Cons of mortgage forbearance include added fees and accrued interest. Homeowners can consider alternatives like refinancing, loan modification, or selling the home if forbearance is not the best fit.

What happens after mortgage forbearance?

At the end of a mortgage forbearance, the borrower is expected to resume payments and repay missed payments. There are a few options for doing so.

What are the two types of forbearance?

Student loan forbearance is a federal program that allows you to temporarily pause your repayment. There are two types of forbearance: general and mandatory.

What is the forbearance rule?

Forbearance involves granting concessions to borrowers who are unlikely to be able to repay their loans under the current terms and conditions. Forbearance measures can take the form of refinancing or restructuring the loan, or modifying the terms and conditions (including the interest rate and maturity).

Is forbearance coming to an end?

Covid-19 Forbearance On FHA-Insured Single-Family Mortgages: The COVID-19 Forbearance options for FHA's Single-family insured mortgages and HECM Extensions will end on November 30, 2023. The last day that borrowers can apply for either forbearance option is May 31st of 2023.

Can you sell a house in forbearance?

If your home is worth more than what you owe

Since home prices have appreciated in recent years, most homeowners in forbearance should have enough equity in their house to sell now if they wanted to, says Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic, a housing data company based in Irvine, California.

What are the new forbearance rules?

Under the new law, forbearance shall be granted for up to 180 days at your request, and shall be extended for an additional 180 days at your request. 1 Remember to make the second 180-day request before the end of the first forbearance period.

How to legally stop paying your mortgage?

How To Get Out Of Your Mortgage Legally
  1. Talk To Your Lender. Homeowners who find themselves under financial duress are advised to speak with their lender as soon as possible. ...
  2. Sell Your Home. ...
  3. Request A Deed In Lieu Of Foreclosure. ...
  4. Have A Short Sale. ...
  5. Let Your House Go Into Foreclosure. ...
  6. Strategic Default.

How long can you be in forbearance?

Mandatory forbearances may be granted for no more than 12 months at a time. If you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for the forbearance when your current forbearance period expires, you may request another mandatory forbearance.

Will my loans be forgiven if they are in forbearance?

While in forbearance, you won't make progress toward student loan forgiveness, including income-driven repayment forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Interest will typically accrue on your debt, increasing the amount you'll pay overall.

Is forbearance good consideration?

It is well settled that forbearance or an agreement to forbear prosecu- tion or institution of legal or equitable proceedings to enforce a legal or equitable demand, either absolutely or for a certain time or for a reasonable time is sufficient consideration.

Does a forbearance hurt your credit?

Depending on the type of account and forbearance program, some lenders might report forbearance to the credit bureaus. If this happens, loan forbearance may have an effect on your credit history and credit scores. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends getting a forbearance agreement in writing.

Will my mortgage company let me skip a payment?

Borrowers must have a strong credit score to qualify for a skip-payment mortgage and they must otherwise be up to date on their mortgage payments. Borrowers should be aware that they will still owe the interest and principal that they would have paid in that month.

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 it bad to apply for forbearance?

Student loan forbearance is almost always a last resort, not a first option. Use it if you need temporary relief and don't qualify for deferment. For long-term problems, consider an IDR plan instead. If possible, pay the interest as it accrues to avoid paying interest on interest when you do resume repayment.

Does credit One have a hardship program?

If you experience certain hardships—sometimes defined as involuntary unemployment or disability—you can activate the program which then allows you to stop making payments for a period of time.

What is a hardship on a house mortgage?

A hardship letter is a document some lenders require when you're struggling with your mortgage payment and seeking relief. A hardship letter can help you qualify for loan reinstatement, forbearance, repayment plan, modification, a short sale, or a deed in lieu of foreclosure.