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What happens if your house payment is late?

Author

Sophia Koch

Updated on February 03, 2026

Your mortgage lender will likely report your late payment to the three major credit bureaus after 30 days past due, and your credit score will take a hit. Even one late payment can negatively affect your credit score for up to three years, according to FICO.

Will 1 late payment affect mortgage application?

Having missed one payment a few years ago isn’t likely to affect your mortgage application in any major way. However, it may still knock your credit score slightly meaning you may not have access to every lender or at least their best deals.

Are mortgage payments due on the 1st?

Most banks make mortgage payments due on the first of the month. For instance, if you can pay your mortgage 3 – 7 days earlier each month, within 4 – 8 months you’ll be a month ahead on your payments. While you’ll still have a payment due every month, paying early will help you pay down your principal.

How long do late payments stay on your credit report?

How long do late payments stay on your credit report? Late payments remain on your credit report for seven years. However, contrary to popular belief, you do NOT have to wait up to seven years before being able to get a mortgage, car loan or any other type of credit again. Your credit score will steadily rise as time goes on.

How does a late payment on a mortgage affect your credit score?

Research conducted by FICO shows that a single 30-day late payment on a mortgage can shave 75 or more points off of a consumer’s credit score. In addition, late payments remain on a credit report for seven years. As a result, what may at first seem insignificant can have a major affect on a FICO score. 2.

How does your payment history affect your credit score?

Your payment history is the most significant factor in your FICO credit score, with a 35 percent weighting. Even if your credit reports are in good shape, one late payment can damage your credit, and those “lates” will stay in your credit reports for up to seven years unless you do something about them.

How long does it take for credit score to recover after missed payment?

For example, “if a missed payment has dragged your score down, your score could rebound in a month or two, a series of late payments will take longer to make a full recovery,” Griffin said. Being late on a mortgage payment is a more serious problem, yet you can recover from that in as little as nine months.