How to Pay Your Amerihome Mortgage and What Happens If You Miss a Payment
How to make a payment to Amerihome
Amerihome Mortgage Company lets you pay through their online portal, by phone, or by mail. The fastest way is logging into your account at amerihome.com and making a one-time payment or setting up automatic payments. You can also call their customer service line — the number is on your mortgage statement — and a representative will process a payment over the phone using your bank account or debit card.
If you prefer to mail a check, write it to Amerihome Mortgage Company and include your loan number on the check itself. Mail it to the address listed on your statement; do not send it to a branch office. Mailed payments take longer to reach your account, so allow at least 10 business days before the due date to avoid a late fee.
Automatic payments (also called autopay) pull money from your checking or savings account on the date you choose each month. Setting this up removes the risk of forgetting a payment, and many people use it to pay on the day after they get paid. You can change or cancel autopay anytime through your online account.
Key Takeaways
- Amerihome accepts payments online, by phone, or by mail, with online and phone payments posting within one to two business days.
- Automatic payments remove the risk of a late fee and can be set up or changed anytime through your online account.
- A payment is late if it arrives after the due date shown on your statement, and late fees begin immediately.
- Missing a payment triggers a chain: late fees, credit damage, and eventually foreclosure if payments are not caught up within months.
- If you cannot pay, contact Amerihome before the due date to discuss forbearance, loan modification, or other options.
When a payment is considered late and what it costs
Your payment is late if it arrives after the due date printed on your statement. Amerihome charges a late fee immediately — the amount depends on your loan agreement, but it is typically a percentage of your monthly payment or a flat fee. This fee is added to what you owe, so you will pay more next month if you do not catch up.
A single late payment also damages your credit score. Credit bureaus record the late payment on your report, and lenders see it for seven years. Even one late payment can lower your score by 50 to 100 points, making it harder and more expensive to borrow money for a car, credit card, or anything else in the future.
If you are 30 days late, Amerihome will likely send you a written notice. If you reach 60 days late, they may report the delinquency to credit bureaus and begin calling you. At 90 days late, foreclosure proceedings can begin — this is the legal process where the lender takes back the house and sells it to recover what you owe.
What to do if you cannot pay on time
Contact Amerihome as soon as you know you will miss a payment. Do not wait until after the due date. Call the number on your statement and explain your situation — job loss, medical emergency, temporary income drop, or anything else affecting your ability to pay. Amerihome has options for borrowers in hardship, and they are more likely to work with you if you reach out first.
Forbearance is a temporary pause or reduction in your monthly payment. Amerihome may allow you to pay less for a few months while you recover financially. The unpaid amount is added to the end of your loan, so you will pay it back later, but it gives you breathing room now. Forbearance typically lasts three to six months.
Loan modification is a permanent change to your loan terms — for example, lowering your interest rate, extending the loan period, or adding missed payments to the balance. This changes your monthly payment going forward. Modification takes longer to process than forbearance but can lower your payment permanently.
If you are already behind, Amerihome may offer a repayment plan where you pay a higher amount each month for a set period to catch up. For example, if you missed two months, you might pay your regular payment plus one-third of a payment for three months.
How Amerihome reports payment history to credit bureaus
Amerihome reports your payment status to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — once a month. If you pay on time, they report "paid as agreed." If you are late, they report the number of days late: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, or more.
A payment reported as 30 days late stays on your credit report for seven years from the date you first missed the payment. Even after you catch up and pay on time for months, the late payment remains visible to lenders. This is why catching up quickly matters — the longer you stay behind, the more damage accumulates.
If you bring your account current (catch up all missed payments), Amerihome will report it as current going forward, but the late payments already reported do not disappear. Over time, as you build a record of on-time payments, the impact of old late payments fades, but they are still there.
Automatic payment setup and changes
To set up autopay, log into your Amerihome account online and look for the payment or autopay section. You will enter your bank account number and routing number, choose the payment amount (usually your full monthly payment), and select the date each month when the payment should be withdrawn. Most people choose a date shortly after they receive their paycheck.
Autopay can be changed or stopped anytime through your account. If you need to pause it for a month, you can do that without penalty. If you want to change the payment date or amount, you can update it immediately. There is no fee for setting up, changing, or canceling autopay.
If your bank account does not have enough money on the autopay date, the payment will fail and you will be charged a late fee. Make sure your account has the full payment amount available on the day autopay is scheduled to run.
Payment posting times and how to confirm your payment was received
Online and phone payments usually post to your account within one to two business days. Mailed checks take 7 to 10 business days or longer depending on mail delivery. If you are close to your due date, do not mail a check — use online or phone payment instead.
After you make a payment, log into your account to confirm it was received. Your account should show the payment amount, the date it posted, and your new balance. If you paid by phone, ask the representative for a confirmation number before you hang up. Keep this number in case you need to prove you paid.
If a payment does not appear in your account within the expected timeframe, contact Amerihome immediately. Bring your confirmation number or the date and amount you paid. They can trace the payment and make sure it is applied correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay extra toward my principal each month?
Yes. You can pay more than your required monthly payment anytime, and the extra amount goes toward your principal balance. This reduces the total interest you pay over the life of the loan and helps you pay off the mortgage faster. Make sure to specify that the extra payment should go to principal, not to future payments.
What happens if I pay my mortgage late but then catch up?
Once you catch up all missed payments, your account is current again and you can resume regular monthly payments. However, the late payment remains on your credit report for seven years. Amerihome will report your account as current going forward, but lenders will still see the history of the late payment.
Is there a penalty for paying off my mortgage early?
Some mortgages have a prepayment penalty, but many do not. Check your loan documents or contact Amerihome to ask whether your specific loan has a prepayment penalty. If it does, the penalty is a fee charged if you pay off the loan before a certain date. If it does not, you can pay extra or pay off the entire balance anytime without penalty.
What if I want to change my payment due date?
Contact Amerihome and ask to change your due date. They may be able to move it to a date that aligns better with your paycheck or cash flow. Some lenders allow one change per year, while others are more flexible. Ask what options are available for your loan.
Can I make a payment over the phone without an account?
Yes. Call the number on your mortgage statement and a representative can process a payment using your bank account or debit card. You will need your loan number and bank information. The representative will give you a confirmation number — write it down for your records.