How Long Does a Foreclosure Stay on Your Credit Reports?

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How a foreclosure affects your credit
Track your credit score in 2025 with the NerdWallet app
When your score changes, our app tells you why — and suggests what to do in the future.
What if a foreclosure doesn’t fall off after seven years?
You can rebuild much sooner
- Pay all bills on time. Payment history is the biggest factor affecting credit scores. You want to build up a long track record of on-time payments so you look good to potential lenders in the future.
- Use no more than 30% of your credit limits. The second-biggest factor in scores is how much of your credit limits you use, which is called credit utilization. The lower your credit utilization, the better for your score.
- If needed, look into ways to rebuild credit such as getting a secured credit card or a credit-builder loan.
Can you get a mortgage after foreclosure?
