What happens if I can't pay my mortgage for one month?

Asked by: Maud Breitenberg  |  Last update: September 22, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (50 votes)

If you miss a mortgage payment, your loan will be “past due.” If your loan is 30 days past due, it may be reported on your credit report. A single late or missed payment on your credit report can reduce your credit score. Your mortgage servicer or a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency can help at no cost to you.

What happens if you don't pay your mortgage for a month?

If you buy a house and don't pay the mortgage payments for any reason, the bank will start proceedings to repossess it. It would be rare for you to see any money returned to you for the sale of the home. Sometimes they auction off for right around the amount you owe.

Can I pause my mortgage for 1 month?

A mortgage forebearance, homeowners with federally backed loans have the right to ask for and receive a forebearance for a period of 180 days - which means you can pause or reduce your mortgage payments for up to six months.

Will a mortgage company let you skip one payment?

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.

Can you defer a mortgage payment for one month?

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.

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How long can you be one month behind on mortgage?

How far behind on my mortgage can I be before foreclosure? Foreclosure processes generally begin 3-6 months after the first missed payment. Federal law usually requires a homeowner to be more than 120 days overdue before starting foreclosure, but earlier action can occur if there's no communication with the lender.

What is the one month reduced payment forbearance?

A Reduced Payment Forbearance allows a borrower to temporarily reduce the monthly loan payment amount due for a specific loan for a limited period of time.

Can I get a payment break on my mortgage?

Typically, you will often have needed to have made payments on time for a minimum period before you qualify to take a mortgage holiday. Your ability to take a mortgage holiday also depends on the size of your mortgage and the value of your home.

What is the difference between a forbearance and a deferment?

The difference between deferment and forbearance has to do with interest accrual (accumulation). During a deferment, interest doesn't accrue on some types of loans. During a forbearance, interest accrues on all loan types.

What options do I have if I can't pay my mortgage?

If you are having trouble with your mortgage, your servicer will try to understand your situation. If there is a hardship, your servicer will explore mortgage assistance options with you. Options might include a repayment plan, loan modification, short sale or Deed-In-Lieu of foreclosure.

What is considered a hardship for a mortgage?

Sudden financial hardships can occur for many reasons, such as job loss, illness, disability, natural disasters, or divorce. When something affects your ability to make your mortgage payments, a forbearance plan can provide breathing room to get back on track.

How long can you freeze your mortgage for?

It can allow you to stop or reduce your monthly payments for between 1 and 12 months.

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.

Can I put my mortgage on hold?

If you are unable to keep up with your regular repayments because of temporary financial stress, you can apply to your lender for a hardship variation. If your lender agrees, they will pause your repayments and add all interest charges on your home loan to the end of the loan term.

What happens if I pay my mortgage a month late?

One Missed Mortgage Payment (30 Days Overdue)

Most lenders charge a late fee 10-15 days after a missed payment. A missed mortgage payment is reported to the credit bureaus once it's 30 days late, which means you're officially in default. This means a negative hit to your credit score.

What happens if I am not able to pay my mortgage?

If you can't reinstate or redeem your mortgage, your lender can start a court action to foreclose on your mortgage. This usually happens after you've missed three months of payments. But it can happen sooner.

How many months can you defer a mortgage payment?

Mortgages. If a mortgage lender offers deferment, it will typically allow you to postpone payments for three to six months.

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.

Does a forbearance hurt your credit?

Loan forbearance can impact your credit depending on how lenders report relief payments to credit bureaus. If payments are reported as delinquent, forbearance may harm your credit. However, many types of forbearance shouldn't hurt your credit.

How do I legally stop paying my 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.

Can I freeze my loan payments?

The lender may agree to freeze the interest you owe for a fixed period. During this time you continue to pay off what you owe, so will end up paying less overall.It is down to the individual lender to decide whether they will approve a request to freeze interest on payments and for how long.

How long can you go without paying your mortgage?

Foreclosure is typically triggered after you miss three payments—that is, you go 90 days past due on your mortgage. A final foreclosure order, requiring you to vacate the property, takes at least another 30 days, by which time you'll have missed a total of four payments.

What is temporary hardship forbearance?

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. Forbearance can help you deal with a financial hardship.

How long does deferment approval take?

It typically takes about three business days from the day we receive your application. To potentially reduce this time, apply on the Repayment Options & Resources page . Many deferments and forbearances requested online are processed within 24 hours.

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.