Can you refinance with late payments? Certain lenders and programs allow you to refinance if you’ve had a late mortgage payment. But you may have to do some searching.
Check today's rates here and apply for a conventional refinance (Nov 4th, 2026)
Question: Is there any way to refinance if we had a late payment on our mortgage six months ago? So far no one will approve us until a year has gone by with no late payments. We are drowning with a 6.75 percent interest rate.
–Anna
Answer: First, you’ll need to determine what kind of loan you currently have.
If your current loan is an FHA loan then an FHA streamline refinance may enable you to refinance. An FHA streamline looks back at your payment history in two steps. For the six months before the lender gets your FHA case number, every payment must be made within the month it is due. In the six months before that, FHA allows no more than one 30-day late payment. You must also make the payment due in the month before the loan closes within that same month. A late payment from about six months ago may still fit, but ask the lender how it counts the months.
Can I refinance with late payments on a VA loan?
If your current loan is a VA loan, you may be eligible for a VA streamline refinance. A recent late payment does not automatically rule out a VA streamline. The loan must be seasoned, though. At least 210 days must have passed since the first payment due date, and you must have made at least six consecutive monthly payments.
Keep in mind that with all of these loan types, lenders can impose their own rules above and beyond what the FHA or VA require. That’s probably the reason you’re experiencing resistance from the lenders you are applying with. Keep looking, and you may find a lender that sticks to the base requirements and who may approve you for the loan.
Check today's rates here and apply for a conventional refinance (Nov 4th, 2026)
