Which credit score will my mortgage lender use, FICO or VantageScore?

By Justin Lazzaro, NMLS #1229453
Published October 27, 2026. Last reviewed October 27, 2026.

It depends on the lender. Since September 9, 2026, every lender approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can use either Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 on a conventional loan, and FHA is scheduled to accept VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10T starting January 1, 2027. You don't choose the model. The lender does, which is one more reason the lender you work with matters.

What changed in 2026?

Conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac used to be scored with Classic FICO only. That changed in steps:

  • July 8, 2025: the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that lenders could use either VantageScore 4.0 or Classic FICO.
  • April 2026: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac began a limited rollout with a group of approved lenders.
  • September 9, 2026: VantageScore 4.0 opened to every Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac approved lender, with no separate approval needed.
  • September 30, 2026: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac published pricing adjustments to align pricing across both models.

Using VantageScore 4.0 is optional. A lender that isn't set up for it can keep using Classic FICO, and any lender can add its own requirements on top of these rules. Lenders still pull scores from all three credit bureaus either way.

How is VantageScore 4.0 different from Classic FICO?

The biggest differences are how much credit history each model needs and what each one counts.

  • Credit history: Classic FICO needs at least one account open six months or more and at least one account reported to a credit bureau in the past six months. VantageScore 4.0 was built to score more people with short, thin or inactive credit histories.
  • Rent, phone and utility payments: VantageScore 4.0 counts them when they appear on your credit report. Many of these payments never get reported, so this only helps if yours do.
  • Card and loan balances: Classic FICO looks at a snapshot of what you owe today. VantageScore 4.0 looks at 24 months of trended data, so paying balances down over time helps and balances that keep climbing hurt.
  • Collections: VantageScore 4.0 leaves paid collections and medical collections out of the score. Classic FICO can still count them.

When is a different score most likely to make a difference?

Mostly when the issue is a thin credit file, not a damaged one. A lender that uses VantageScore 4.0 may see a different picture if:

  • you were told you had no score or too little credit history,
  • your report shows paid or medical collections, or
  • your score fell just short of a program's minimum.

A different model is unlikely to change much when a report shows recent late payments, open collections, a recent bankruptcy or foreclosure, or high or climbing card balances. No scoring model can promise a higher score or an approval, and every application is still reviewed on credit, income, assets and the property. Either way, it's worth asking what your options are.

Can I choose which score my lender uses?

No. The lender chooses the model, and every borrower on the same loan has to be scored on the same model. Under Fannie Mae's rule, manually underwritten conventional loans still use Classic FICO only.

The score you see in a free credit app is often a different model or version than the one a mortgage lender pulls. Treat it as a general guide, not a preview of your mortgage score.

What about FHA, VA and USDA loans?

Under HUD Mortgagee Letter 2026-11, FHA will accept FICO Score 10T and VantageScore 4.0 alongside Classic FICO for case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2027. FHA's minimum credit score thresholds stay the same no matter which model is used, every borrower on the loan must be scored on the same model, and FHA still requires a report from all three bureaus. VA and USDA loans have their own credit rules, so ask about those separately.

Your next step

If a lender told you no because of credit in the last year, it may be worth a second look. I work with multiple lenders, so I can check which ones use VantageScore 4.0 and whether it changes anything for your file. Request a quote, or read what pre-qualification means first.

Sources

This article is for general information only. It is not an offer to lend or a commitment to lend. Loan programs and guidelines change, and approval depends on credit, income, assets, property and program eligibility. Not all borrowers qualify. Market information is as of the date shown and comes from the sources credited. Any average rate mentioned is a national survey figure from its named source, not a rate offered by Reasy Financial, LLC or Justin Lazzaro. Justin Lazzaro, NMLS #1229453. Reasy Financial, LLC, NMLS #2446155, AZ BK 2012302. Equal Housing Opportunity.