Your mortgage payment due date is set in your loan documents and typically falls on the same day each month
The due date appears in your promissory note — the document you signed at closing. Most lenders set it for the 1st of the month, though some use the 15th or another fixed day. Your lender will tell you the exact date in your initial paperwork and in your first billing statement. If you cannot find it, call your loan servicer (the company that collects your payments) and ask for your due date; they can tell you in seconds.
The due date does not change unless you refinance or modify your loan. If you move to a different lender through a refinance, your new loan will have its own due date, which your new servicer will specify in writing before you close.
Key Takeaways
- Your due date is printed in your promissory note and on your first billing statement, and it stays the same every month unless you refinance.
- Most mortgages are due on the 1st of the month, but some lenders use the 15th or another date — check your documents to be certain.
- A payment is considered late if it arrives after the due date, though most lenders allow a grace period of 10 to 15 days before reporting the late payment to credit bureaus.
- Paying early does not change your due date or reduce the number of payments you owe over the life of the loan.
- If your due date falls on a weekend or holiday, your lender will specify whether payment is due the business day before or after.
How the grace period works and when late fees start
A grace period is the window between your due date and the date your lender reports you as late to credit bureaus. Most mortgages include a grace period of 10 to 15 days. If your due date is the 1st and your lender's grace period is 15 days, you can pay by the 15th without a late mark on your credit report.
Late fees, however, often begin before the grace period ends. Many loans charge a late fee if payment arrives after the due date, regardless of the grace period. Read your loan documents or call your servicer to learn when your late fee kicks in — it may be the day after the due date, or it may align with the end of the grace period. Late fees are typically 4 to 6 percent of your monthly payment amount, though this varies by lender and state.
Missing the end of the grace period means the late payment appears on your credit report and stays there for seven years. A single 30-day late payment can lower your credit score by 100 points or more, depending on your current score and credit history.
What happens if your due date falls on a weekend or holiday
If your due date lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, your lender will specify in your loan documents whether payment is due the business day before or the business day after. Some lenders move the due date forward; others move it back. Check your promissory note or call your servicer to confirm which applies to you.
If you are paying by mail, account for postal delays. The U.S. Postal Service typically takes 3 to 5 business days to deliver a check. If your due date is approaching and you are mailing a payment, use a faster method instead — online bill pay through your bank, your lender's website, or an automated clearing house (ACH) transfer. These methods post within one to two business days.
Paying early and how it affects your due date
Paying your mortgage before the due date does not change when your next payment is due. If your due date is the 1st and you pay on the 20th of the previous month, your next payment is still due on the 1st of the following month. The due date is fixed to your loan, not to when you actually pay.
Paying early does reduce the amount of interest you owe over the life of the loan, because the principal balance decreases sooner. However, it does not shorten the number of payments you must make unless you are making extra principal payments or have a biweekly payment plan. If you want to pay off your mortgage faster, ask your servicer whether extra principal payments are allowed without penalty.
Automatic payments and how to set them up
Most lenders offer automatic payment options that deduct your mortgage payment from your bank account on your due date or a few days before. Setting up autopay removes the risk of forgetting a payment and ensures your lender receives the money on time. You can usually set this up through your servicer's website or by calling their customer service line.
When you enroll in autopay, confirm the exact date the payment will be withdrawn — some servicers pull the money a few days before the due date to account for processing time. Also confirm that the amount is correct. If you have an escrow account (which holds money for property taxes and insurance), your servicer may automatically adjust the payment amount once or twice a year, so check your billing statement each month to catch unexpected changes.
If you need to stop an automatic payment, contact your servicer at least three business days before the scheduled withdrawal. Stopping a payment does not excuse you from paying; you will still owe the money, and it will be late if you do not pay by the due date through another method.
What to do if you cannot pay by the due date
If you know you will miss your due date, contact your servicer before the due date arrives. Many lenders offer forbearance, which temporarily reduces or pauses your payment for a set period. Forbearance does not erase what you owe — you will repay the missed amount later, usually by adding it to future payments or at the end of the loan. Forbearance also does not prevent a late mark on your credit report if you miss the grace period, though some lenders may work with you to minimize the damage.
If you are struggling with payments, ask your servicer about loan modification, which changes the terms of your loan to lower the monthly payment. Modification is different from forbearance: it is permanent, not temporary. The process takes weeks or months and requires documentation of your income and hardship, but it can make your mortgage affordable again.
Do not ignore a missed payment. The longer you wait, the more fees accumulate and the harder it becomes to catch up. If you fall 120 days behind, your lender can begin foreclosure proceedings in most states.
How to find your due date if you have lost your documents
Your due date appears in several places. Start with your monthly billing statement, which your servicer mails or emails to you. The statement shows your due date, the amount due, and the grace period. If you receive statements online, log into your servicer's website and pull up the most recent statement.
If you cannot access your statement, call your servicer's customer service number. You will need your loan number or the property address. The servicer can tell you your due date, your current balance, and whether you are current on payments. Keep this information for your records.
You can also review your original loan documents. The promissory note and the deed of trust (or mortgage document, depending on your state) both specify the due date. If you have these documents in paper form, look for the section labeled "Payment Terms" or "Due Date." If you have them digitally, search for "due date" to find the relevant section quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my mortgage due date?
Some lenders allow you to request a due date change, usually by contacting your servicer and submitting a written request. Not all servicers accommodate this, and some charge a fee. Call your servicer to ask whether a change is possible and what the process involves. A due date change does not affect your loan balance or interest rate.
What if I pay my mortgage twice in one month by accident?
Contact your servicer immediately and ask them to apply the extra payment to your principal balance or hold it as a credit toward your next payment. Do not assume they will handle it correctly on their own. Some servicers will apply it to principal automatically; others will hold it as a credit; still others may return it. Confirm in writing what they plan to do.
Does paying on the due date versus early affect my credit score?
No. Your credit score reflects whether you paid on time (by the end of the grace period), not whether you paid early. Paying on the 1st and paying on the 20th of the same month both count as on-time payments. Only late payments — those that arrive after the grace period — damage your credit.
What if my servicer loses my payment?
If you paid by check and your servicer claims they never received it, ask them to investigate. Request a copy of the cancelled check from your bank as proof of payment. If you paid electronically, your bank or the ACH network will have a record of the transaction. Provide this documentation to your servicer and ask them to credit your account. Keep receipts for all payments you make.
Can my due date change if I refinance?
Yes. When you refinance, you receive a new loan with new terms, including a new due date. Your new servicer will specify the due date in your closing documents. Your old loan ends, and your new loan begins on a separate schedule. Make sure you understand your new due date before you close the refinance.