If a mortgage payment is late by one day, the borrower should immediately contact their mortgage lender or servicer to explain the situation. Lenders often have a grace period (typically 15 days) before charging late fees or reporting the delinquency to credit bureaus. Paying the overdue amount within this window can prevent additional penalties and protect the credit score. If unable to pay immediately, inquire about payment plans or temporary deferrals. Avoid ignoring the issue, as even a single-day delay can escalate into a formal delinquency status if unresolved.

Lenders prioritize resolving minor delays quickly because a one-day late payment can trigger automatic reporting to credit bureaus within 30 days, leading to a credit score drop of 30-40 points if the payment remains overdue. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), 30% of lenders offer a grace period, but only 15% wave late fees for first-time offenders. The Federal Reserve’s 2022 report noted that 2.5% of mortgages were 30+ days delinquent, contributing to a 0.25% average interest rate increase for borrowers with poor credit histories. Proactively addressing a one-day delay mitigates long-term financial risks, as 60% of lenders penalize recurring late payments more severely than isolated incidents, per Fannie Mae data.及时沟通 and prompt payment are critical to avoiding long-term credit damage and maintaining affordable loan terms.