What Changed on September 9, 2026: VantageScore 4.0 and Every Fannie/Freddie Lender
Addison's Surprise
A situation that comes up often for real estate agents is sitting down to pre-approve a buyer and getting a number that doesn't quite match expectations. That's what happened with Addison, a real estate agent working a routine pre-approval. The buyer's credit looked solid on paper, but the score that came back from the lender told a slightly different story than Addison expected. Nothing was wrong with the buyer's credit. What had changed was something happening industry-wide, and most agents haven't caught up to it yet.
The Policy Change
On September 9, 2026, FHFA updated its credit scores policy. Here is the language, word for word, straight from the source:
"On September 9, 2026, the Enterprises expanded the availability of VantageScore 4.0 to all approved lenders, removing the requirement for prior written approval. All Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac approved lenders may now use VantageScore 4.0 when originating and selling eligible loans to the Enterprises. ... Lenders may continue to use Classic FICO credit scores or use VantageScore 4.0 in accordance with the requirements in the Enterprises' Selling Guides."
In plain terms: before this date, a lender needed special written approval to use VantageScore 4.0 on conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Now that requirement is gone. Any approved lender can choose either Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0.
Why This Matters for a Buyer File
Classic FICO and VantageScore 4.0 are two different scoring models. They weigh credit history differently, and they can land on different numbers for the same person. That means the same buyer, with the exact same credit file, could get a different score result depending on which model the lender happens to use.
This isn't a flaw in the buyer's credit. It's a difference in the measuring tool. Think of it like two tape measures that are both accurate, but calibrated slightly differently. A borderline file that gets declined under one model might work under the other.
For agents and referral partners, this is a practical issue, not a technical footnote. If a buyer gets turned down, the first question shouldn't be "what's wrong with their credit." It should be "which model was this run on, and would the other one change the outcome."
The One Question to Ask
Addison now asks every lender partner a simple question before submitting a file: since September 9, which score model are you pulling on my buyers' conventional files, Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0? It takes ten seconds to ask and it can change how a file gets prepared and placed from the start.
My Role
I'm Jason Sharon, a licensed mortgage broker with Home Loans Inc, based in North Charleston and licensed across SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, NC, VA, WV, WY, and IA. As a broker, I work with wholesale lenders, which means I can look at a file and know where it fits, model and all. My approach is simple: I find the path.
If you're an agent with a buyer sitting on the fence because of a credit score surprise, or a buyer wondering why your pre-approval looked different than expected, it's worth a conversation before anyone assumes the deal is dead. Reach out and let's look at the file together.
Home Loans Inc - Jason Sharon, Mortgage Broker. Company NMLS #1728740, Jason Sharon NMLS #1281448. Equal Housing Opportunity.