Definition of "Delinquency"

Haven’t you ever paid a bill a few days after the due date? It happened to all of us, not necessarily because we didn’t have the money, but because we simply forgot about it. A delay of a few days on a bill is not such a big deal, yet, according to the definition of delinquency, theoretically, you were delinquent on it. For most invoices and bills there is a grace period. During that time, the company or the bank doesn’t initiate any other measures to recover the debt. As long as you pay your bills or make your loan current within that grace period, your debts are not in delinquency.  But, if you fail to pay in full the amount due, you may be contacted by a collection agency. 

Every borrower should know the definition of delinquency when they are granted any type of loan, but especially when contracting a mortgage. All other debts fade in front of a mortgage. You should do whatever it takes to pay it on time, every month unless you want to lose your property. It is better to postpone the payment of other unsecured debt than to pay your mortgage late. So, delinquency is not necessarily bad as long as you are aware of it and it helps you avoid foreclosure. However, ending up in delinquency too often may affect your credit score. 

A home loan is generally delinquent for 270 days, counted from your last payment. So, in about 9 months, the bank may decide to foreclose on your loan if you don’t seek any kind of settlement. Just because your mortgage is delinquent, it doesn’t mean that you will lose your house. Yes, it is very likely for that to happen, but you can stop a foreclosure by making payments of any amount while your loan is delinquent. Be aware that your loan may accrue interest and penalties during this time, though. 

However, there is a piece of good news. Loans are not considered delinquent until after 15 days past the due date. Most mortgages have this grace period of 15 calendar days which allows borrowers to pay their debt without incurring other costs. And as long as you pay within the grace period, your credit score is not affected

Now that you know the definition of delinquency, we hope that everything is clear and you can better manage all your monthly payments.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Passageway existing from property. An agree may lead to a roadway or some other form of exit. ...

The legal right of a widow to a portion of her deceased husbands real property. ...

Concrete with steel rods inserted into it to provide additional working load support. The premise is that both materials will act together in resisting loan stress. ...

Space reserved for specified vehicles. For example, an office building may have space available for automobiles of tenants, clients of tenants, and other visitors. Parking facilities may be ...

Present worth of the property which is different than the price paid for it or its book value (cost less accumulated depreciation). The current value may be determined through appraisal. ...

lease computed as a percentage of the underlying appraised property value. Under the terms of a reappraisal lease, the rent is periodically adjusted using an independent appraisal of the ...

Loan mandating equal periodic payments to pay off the loan subsequent to the last payment. ...

Housing where affirmative action is actively pursued encouraging people of all races, nationalities, and religions to purchase or rent the facilities. ...

The term foraging comes from the old germanic language, which passed through Old French “fuerre” and “fourrage” and it means the search for wild food resources. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions