Why your mortgage credit score may differ from the number in your app—and what is changing.
You check your credit score, then talk with a mortgage lender who gives you a different number. It’s a reasonable moment to ask: Which one am I supposed to use?
For the mortgage you’re considering, the relevant score is the one the lender uses under that loan program’s requirements. The number in your app can still help you follow your credit, but it may come from a different scoring model, different report information, or a different point in time.
With new scoring options entering mortgage lending, there’s even more reason to ask someone to explain what applies to you.
You have more than one credit score
A credit report contains information about your credit history. A scoring model uses that information to calculate a score. Change the model or the information available to it, and the number can change.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that lenders use different scoring formulas and credit-report sources. Timing matters, too. An account balance updated after your app calculated its score, for example, could affect a later calculation.
A difference doesn’t automatically mean someone made a mistake. It does give you a reason to ask which model was used and to check the underlying reports for accuracy.
What is changing in November 2026?
According to FHFA’s credit-score updates, all approved Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lenders may now use VantageScore 4.0 for eligible loans under the agencies’ requirements. Lenders may also continue using Classic FICO.
That gives lenders another permitted option. It does not mean every lender has switched.
FICO 10T has also been approved, but approval and implementation are separate steps. At the time of this November 2026 article, FHFA says it is not yet eligible for delivery to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae’s guidance likewise says lenders will be advised when it becomes available.
These updates concern Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. If you’re considering FHA, VA, USDA, or another program, ask your lender which requirements apply to your application.
A different model is not a promised result
A model’s name won’t tell you whether it will give you a higher score, a lower payment, or an approval. Your lender also reviews more than your score. Income, existing debts, savings, and other assets matter, as the [CFPB’s mortgage guidance](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/
