60 Days Late on Your Mortgage: What Happens Next?
If your mortgage is 60 days late, you're about two months behind on a payment. You may now owe three monthly payments because another one has come due.
Your mortgage company may be calling more often or sending letters. Don't ignore them, even if you can't pay the full amount. Find out what you owe and ask what help may be available.
What does 60 days late on a mortgage mean?
A mortgage is generally counted as delinquent from the due date of the oldest payment that hasn't been made in full. That is why two missed payments and 60 days late don't always mean exactly the same thing. [1]
Say your mortgage is $2,000 a month, due on the first:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 1 | Your January payment is due. You don't pay it. |
| February 1 | January is about 30 days overdue. February is also due. |
| March 1 | January is nearly 60 days overdue. March is now due. |
| March 2 | January is 60 calendar days overdue. If nothing was paid, three $2,000 payments are due. |
In this example, the unpaid monthly payments total $6,000, not counting any fees. The exact day count depends on the dates involved.
Is paying 30 days late twice the same as being 60 days late?
No. If you make one payment each month but stay about a month behind, you may have repeated 30-day delinquencies. A payment that remains unpaid for roughly two months can put you about 60 days behind instead.
For example, if you pay $2,000 in March and the servicer applies it to January, February becomes the oldest unpaid payment. You're still behind, but the age of your oldest missed payment has changed. [1]
Why is your mortgage company calling and sending letters?
Your servicer, the company that collects your mortgage payments, may contact you to discuss overdue payments and ways to get back on track.
For many home loans, federal rules require the servicer to:
- Try to speak with you by the 36th day of delinquency.
- Send a written notice about possible help by the 45th day, when required.
- Make staff available to answer questions about your account and mortgage assistance. [2][3]
These rules have exceptions. They also don't require every servicer to call the same number of times.
A call doesn't mean foreclosure has started. It may be a chance to explain why you're behind and ask what your options are.
You can talk to your servicer even if you don't have all your paperwork ready. You don't have to promise a payment you can't afford.
How can you get your mortgage current?
Start by asking for the exact amount needed to bring the loan current and which monthly payments are still unpaid.
One regular payment may not be enough. As the example above shows, a payment made in March might first cover January, leaving February and March unpaid.
Also ask whether the servicer has received any payments it hasn't applied. Some servicers hold payments that are too small to cover a full monthly installment until enough money is available. [4]
If the payment history looks wrong, ask for an explanation. If you believe the servicer made an error, you can send a written notice of error under the applicable mortgage servicing rules. [7]
Four questions to ask when you call
- How much do I need to pay to bring my loan current?
- Which monthly payments are still unpaid?
- What payment assistance could apply to my mortgage?
- What documents do you need, and when should I follow up?
Write down the date, who you spoke with, and what they told you. Ask for any important next steps in writing.
Download free printable PDF: Mortgage Servicer Call and Follow-Up Log
What if you can't pay everything you owe?
Tell the servicer what you can afford now and whether you expect your income to recover.
| Your situation | An option to ask about |
|---|---|
| You can pay the full past-due amount | Bringing the loan current in one payment |
| You can afford your normal payment plus extra | A repayment plan |
| Your hardship may be temporary | Forbearance, which may lower or pause payments for a time |
| Your payment no longer fits your budget | A loan modification, which may change the loan terms |
Not every option is available for every loan. Your servicer must review the options that apply to your mortgage and situation. Forbearance does not erase the missed payments; you'll need to understand how they are handled afterward. [5]
A HUD-approved housing counselor can also help you review your choices. You can find one through the CFPB's mortgage help resources.
Can foreclosure start when you're 60 days late?
Being 60 days late does not automatically start foreclosure. For loans covered by the federal servicing rule, the servicer generally cannot make the first required foreclosure notice or filing until the loan is more than 120 days delinquent. There are exceptions, and state law affects the process. [6]
You shouldn't use 120 days as a deadline to wait. The sooner you ask about help, the more time you'll have to review your options.
What about your credit?
A payment reported as 60 days late can hurt your credit. Repeated 30-day late payments are not the same payment history as one that reaches 60 days late. The effect on your credit depends on your full credit history and what is reported. Getting current won't automatically erase past late payments.
For now, the more useful question is what you need to do to stop falling further behind.
Need help with your next steps?
Short-Sale.com Help can help you organize your payment information, understand common assistance options, and prepare for a conversation with your servicer. You can start with what you know.
Still have questions about missed payments or foreclosure?
Ask about this page or what may happen next. You will continue in Help — this is general information, not legal or counseling advice.
People also ask
Sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Regulation X, §1024.31 and official interpretation.
- CFPB, Regulation X, §1024.39, Early intervention.
- CFPB, Regulation X, §1024.40, Continuity of contact.
- CFPB, Regulation Z, §1026.36, Payment processing.
- CFPB, Help for Homeowners; HUD, Housing Counselors Training Module 5.2, Retention Options.
- CFPB, Regulation X, §1024.41, Loss mitigation and foreclosure initiation.
- CFPB, Regulation X, §1024.35, Error resolution.