Which Credit Score Will Your Mortgage Lender Pull? Classic FICO, FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 in 2026
For decades a mortgage meant Classic FICO. In 2026 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lenders can use VantageScore 4.0, and FHA adds it and FICO 10T in January. Here is which score applies to your loan and how to prepare.
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📐 Figures verified Sep 28, 2026 against FHA's Alternative Credit Scores Preparedness Guide, the April 22, 2026 FHFA and HUD announcement, Fannie Mae Lender Letter LL-2026-06, the Credit Score Competition Act in Public Law 115-174, the CFPB on free reports, disputes and reporting timelines, and HousingWire's reporting on the price grids. How we check numbers →
For a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan, your lender now picks Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0, uses the same model for every borrower and pulls all three bureaus. FHA loans use Classic FICO until case numbers assigned from January 1, 2027, when VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T join it. Ask which model before the lender pulls your credit, and start preparing three to six months ahead.
Numbers That Matter
| Figure | Amount | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA credit score models | VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T accepted alongside Classic FICO for case numbers assigned from Jan. 1, 2027 | HUD / FHA preparedness guide | Sep 28, 2026 |
| FHA borrowers on one loan | All scored with the same credit score model | HUD / FHA preparedness guide | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Credit Score Competition Act | Requires FHFA to set a process to validate and approve alternative score models | P.L. 115-174, section 310 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Free credit reports | From each of the three bureaus, every week | CFPB | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Disputing an error | The bureau generally must investigate within 30 days | CFPB | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Late payments and collections on reports | Up to 7 years | CFPB | Sep 28, 2026 |
Which Score, by Loan Type
| Loan | Models allowed | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac) | Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0, lender's choice (all approved lenders since Sept. 9, 2026); FICO 10T approved but not yet deliverable | One model for every borrower; reports from all three bureaus; usually the middle of each borrower's three scores |
| FHA | Classic FICO; VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T added for case numbers from Jan. 1, 2027 | One model for every borrower on the loan |
| VA and USDA | Set by each agency and the lender; VA has said it plans to allow VantageScore 4.0 | Ask the lender; timelines differ from Fannie, Freddie and FHA |
| Jumbo and portfolio loans | The lender's own choice | Many still use Classic FICO; ask |
How the Three Models Differ
| Feature | Classic FICO | FICO 10T | VantageScore 4.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card balances | Latest snapshot | 24-month trend | 24-month trend |
| Paid collections | Counted | Ignored | Ignored |
| Medical collections | Counted like others | Less weight | Ignored |
| Rent history | Not used | Used if reported | Used if reported |
| Rate-shopping window | 14 days | 45 days | 14 days |
The practical upshot: a paid collection or an unpaid medical bill hurts more on Classic FICO; a card balance that has fallen steadily helps more on the trended models; and reported rent can help renters with thin files on the newer scores. Keep mortgage applications within 14 days so every model counts them as one inquiry.
The Scores Aren't Priced the Same
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac price loans with grids built for FICO, and they ask for a VantageScore 4.0 about 20 points higher for the same price: the best tier starts at 780 on Classic FICO and at 800 on VantageScore. The grid moves in 20-point bands, so a few points can change your price. In a Milliman comparison reported by HousingWire, Classic FICO gave the cheaper price adjustment about 40% of the time and VantageScore about 25%; the rest tied. You can't choose the model, but you can ask each lender which one it uses and compare offers.
Three to Six Months Before You Apply
- Pull all three reports, free every week, and dispute errors now; investigations generally take up to 30 days.
- Pay card balances down steadily, every month, not in one payoff right before applying; the trended models see the path.
- Keep every account current and avoid opening or closing cards.
- Get rent reported if you rent: through your landlord or a rent-reporting service, it can count on the newer models.
- Shop lenders within 14 days and ask each which score model it will use.
Worked Example: Which Model Prices Better?
- Casey: Classic FICO middle score 742, VantageScore 4.0 middle score 758. With the 20-point offset, 758 prices like a 738 FICO, so FICO lands in the 740–759 band and VantageScore in the 720–739 band. Classic FICO prices one band better.
- Jordan: Classic FICO middle score 668, VantageScore 4.0 middle score 704. With the 20-point offset, 704 prices like a 684 FICO, so FICO lands in the 660–679 band and VantageScore in the 680–699 band. VantageScore prices one band better.
- What a band can cost: on a $350,000 loan, every 0.25 point of price adjustment is $875 at closing, so a full point is $3,500; a lender can also take it as a slightly higher rate.
Scores are illustrative. The real price adjustment depends on the loan-to-value ratio and other factors in the grids. Casey and Jordan are illustrations.
Decision Rules
If this, then that
- If you have a paid collection or unpaid medical collection → ask lenders whether they use VantageScore 4.0, which ignores both.
- If your file is thin or you've rented for years → get rent reported and ask about the newer models.
- If you're near a 20-point band edge → a small paydown or error fix before applying can change your price.
- If you're applying for FHA before 2027 → plan on Classic FICO.
- If lenders quote different models → compare the final rate and costs, not the score.
Mistakes to avoid
- Checking only the free score in an app and assuming the lender sees the same number.
- Paying off cards the week before applying and expecting the trended models to be impressed.
- Spreading mortgage applications over a month.
- Closing old cards before applying.
- Ignoring errors on one bureau's report.
Related: the credit score guide covers the models behind every score; credit utilization explains snapshot vs trended scoring; how to read your credit report walks through each section; and credit score myths clears up what doesn't matter.