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VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10T are newer credit-scoring models approved for use by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but their current mortgage availability is different. As of November 2026, approved lenders can use VantageScore 4.0 for eligible Enterprise loans; FICO 10T has been approved but is not yet eligible for loan delivery. For a borrower, the score model that matters is the one the lender selects for the specific loan—not necessarily the score shown by a consumer-facing credit service.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| VantageScore 4.0 | Eligible loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac when the approved lender selects it | Currently eligible for Enterprise loan delivery; may incorporate rent, utility, and telecom payment histories when available | November 2026 |
| FICO Score 10T | Future Enterprise use, if and when it becomes eligible for delivery | Approved for Enterprise use, but not currently eligible for loan delivery; may incorporate rent, utility, and telecom payment histories when available | November 2026 |
Which score matters for a mortgage right now?
For an eligible loan being sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the immediate choice is between Classic FICO and VantageScore 4.0—not FICO 10T. A lender approved for the Enterprise process may choose either eligible model for a particular loan, and must use the same model for all borrowers on that loan.
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That distinction comes from the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s current credit-score policy page, last updated October 2, 2026. The page says VantageScore 4.0 is available for eligible Enterprise loan deliveries while FICO 10T is not yet eligible. Approval and operational availability are separate: FHFA approved FICO 10T for use in 2022, but that approval does not make it selectable for delivery today.
This is not a universal rule for every U.S. mortgage. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the two housing-finance Enterprises; other loan channels, including government-insured and portfolio loans, may have different applicable requirements. The reviewed FHFA policy does not settle all those programs’ rules. Ask the lender which requirements apply to your loan rather than assuming the Enterprise policy covers it.
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Approval, eligibility and delivery are different terms
These words describe separate stages, and confusing them can lead to the wrong conclusion about your application:
- Validation or approval: FHFA has evaluated a model for potential use by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and approved it for that purpose.
- Operational availability: The model is enabled for an approved lender under the current Enterprise policy.
- Loan delivery eligibility: A loan scored with the model can actually be delivered to an Enterprise under the rules in effect at that time.
FHFA announced validation and approval of both FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 on October 24, 2022. That announcement established that both models met the Enterprises’ accuracy standards in validation. It did not establish that both models could immediately be used to deliver every loan. The October 2, 2026 policy page is the later operational reference: VantageScore 4.0 is currently eligible for qualifying Enterprise deliveries, while FICO 10T is still not.
Rollout work can involve data, systems, testing and coordination among lenders, credit-reporting companies and the Enterprises. A future policy update could change the status, so a borrower who is applying months from now should ask again rather than relying on an older article or a score-monitoring advertisement.
What is the difference between VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T?
For a mortgage shopper, the biggest verified difference is current availability. Both models received FHFA approval for Enterprise use, and both can take certain additional payment histories into account when those data are available. But only VantageScore 4.0 is currently eligible for Enterprise loan delivery; FICO 10T is not.
| Question | VantageScore 4.0 | FICO Score 10T |
|---|---|---|
| Approved for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac use? | Yes, approved in 2022 | Yes, approved in 2022 |
| Eligible for Enterprise loan delivery now? | Yes, for eligible loans through approved lenders | No, not yet |
| Can rent, utility, or telecom payment histories be considered? | Yes, when available | Yes, when available |
| Can the lender use a different model for each borrower on the same loan? | No. The lender must use one model for all borrowers on a given loan. | |
FHFA’s 2022 approval announcement said both models met the Enterprises’ accuracy standards in validation and can use rent, utility, and telecom payment histories when available. That supports saying the newer models can incorporate additional payment information. It does not show that a particular borrower will score higher under one than the other, or reveal a public, detailed comparison of the models’ proprietary formula weights.
FHFA Director Sandra L. Thompson described the agency’s rationale in 2022 this way: “While implementing the newer credit score models is a significant change that will take time and require close coordination across the industry, the models bring improved accuracy and a more inclusive approach to evaluating borrowers.” That is FHFA’s explanation for the change, not a promise that any specific person will receive a higher score or qualify for a mortgage.
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Can I use VantageScore 4.0 for a mortgage?
Possibly, if your loan is eligible for delivery to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and your lender is approved to use the model. VantageScore 4.0 is currently available in that Enterprise channel, but the lender—not the borrower—chooses which eligible model to use for the loan.
The distinction matters because “available” does not mean every lender uses it, every loan qualifies, or every borrower can request it. FHFA says a lender can choose Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 by loan under the current interim policy. If a mortgage has multiple borrowers, the lender must use the same model for all of them on that loan.
FHFA has described a broad implementation effort. Its April 2026 announcement, Homebuying Advances into New Era of Credit Score Competition, said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provide more than $8.5 trillion in funding for U.S. mortgage markets and financial institutions. That figure explains the scale of the Enterprise market; it is not evidence that one model is better for your application or that a particular loan will use VantageScore 4.0.
Is FICO Score 10T available for mortgages yet?
Not for current Enterprise loan delivery, as of November 2026. FHFA approved FICO 10T in 2022, but its current policy page explicitly says it is not yet eligible for delivery to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Do not treat a model’s approval, validation, or mention in rollout announcements as proof it is operationally available for your mortgage. FHFA’s policy page is the relevant source for current Enterprise delivery status; because the rollout can change, confirm with the lender and check the current FHFA policy when you are applying.
That answer is limited to the Enterprise channel. A lender using another channel may describe its own scoring requirements, but the FHFA material does not establish a complete rule for every government-insured, non-Enterprise or portfolio mortgage. The lender or program administrator must answer that question.
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Will rent payments count toward my mortgage score?
Rent, utility, and telecom payment histories may be considered by both VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T when that information is available. The fact that a model can use such data does not guarantee that your own payment history will be present in the data used for your application or change your score.
There are two separate questions: whether the model is capable of using the information, and whether the lender receives usable records for you. FHFA’s approval statement addresses the first question. It does not promise that every rent payment is reported, that every provider supplies data, or that adding a record will raise a score.
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How can I find out which score my lender will use?
Ask the loan officer directly: “Which scoring model will you use for my loan, and which credit-report requirements apply?” If the lender identifies an Enterprise-eligible loan, you can ask whether it will use Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0. If the loan is not being delivered to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, ask for the requirements specific to that program.
- Identify the loan channel. Ask whether the loan is intended for sale to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or is being handled under another program. Do not infer the channel just from the fact that it is a U.S. mortgage.
- Confirm the model and timing. For an eligible Enterprise loan, ask whether the lender plans to use Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0. Do not assume FICO 10T is currently an option for Enterprise delivery.
- Ask whether the lender is approved for the selected model. Current availability applies to approved Enterprise lenders and eligible loans; it is not a blanket instruction that every lender must use VantageScore 4.0.
- Ask about all borrowers. If there are co-borrowers, confirm that one model will be used for everyone on that loan. The lender may make a different model choice on another loan, but not a different model for each person on the same loan under the current Enterprise policy.
- Ask about reporting requirements. The initial VantageScore 4.0 adoption did not change existing Enterprise credit-reporting requirements. Requirements outside that channel need to be confirmed separately.
- Confirm the timing of the credit pull. Ask which policy is in effect when your application is scored and delivered. Eligibility can change as FHFA updates its policy.
- Do not substitute a consumer score for the lender’s answer. A score displayed by a monitoring service is not, by itself, proof of which model the mortgage lender will use. FHFA’s policy describes Enterprise lender choices; it does not establish a connection between consumer-facing score products and a lender’s selection.
What should borrowers do before applying?
Start with the loan channel and the lender’s model choice, not with a goal of converting one consumer score into another. Once you know the applicable channel, ask what credit reports and payment-history records the lender can use. If you have rent, utility or telecom records that you believe should be considered, ask whether those records are available through the lender’s normal reporting process. The model’s capability alone does not create a reporting record.
Keep written notes of the lender’s answers, including the date and the intended delivery channel. If your purchase is delayed or you change lenders, repeat the questions: a different lender can make a different eligible model choice, and the policy in effect at delivery may not be the policy in effect when you first applied.
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Do not pay for a service solely because it displays the name of a newer model unless you understand what the service actually provides. FHFA’s policy does not say that a consumer product’s VantageScore 4.0 or FICO score is the same score a mortgage lender will obtain or use. A monitoring score can be useful for tracking information, but it cannot establish the lender’s model choice.
What does FHFA’s rollout history tell borrowers?
It shows why a model can be approved before it becomes available for loan delivery. FHFA announced validation and approval of FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 in October 2022. In July 2024, the agency said historical VantageScore 4.0 scores released by the Enterprises covered tens of millions of loans. FHFA’s July 11, 2024 release used that description for the historical dataset; the agency later reported additional historical data in 2026.
Historical records can support testing, analysis and implementation, but they do not identify the score model a lender will select for a particular new application. Nor do they predict the score an individual borrower would receive. For current availability, the later policy statement is the decisive reference.
Can a lender use different models on different loans?
Yes, under the current Enterprise policy a lender may choose an eligible model by loan. That means the same lender could use Classic FICO for one eligible loan and VantageScore 4.0 for another, subject to the applicable Enterprise rules and its own approved processes.
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The rule changes when you look at borrowers on one loan: the lender must use one model for all borrowers on that loan. A co-borrower cannot be scored with one eligible model while the other borrower is scored with another simply to produce a preferred result. The policy’s loan-level choice and same-loan consistency requirement are separate concepts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should a borrower interpret a score-model comparison?
Use the comparison to ask the right lender question, not to try to forecast which model will give you a favorable result. FHFA’s public materials establish that both newer models may use certain additional payment histories, and that both met Enterprise validation standards. They do not provide a borrower-level score conversion or a reliable way to predict the difference for an individual.
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Accordingly, avoid treating a score from one model as a direct substitute for a score from another, or assuming a lender will choose a model because it produces the highest number. Under the current Enterprise policy, the lender chooses among the eligible models for a loan, and the model must be consistent across that loan’s borrowers. For any other program, the lender or program’s own rules govern.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling FICO 10T the current mortgage score. It is approved for Enterprise use but not currently eligible for Enterprise loan delivery.
- Assuming VantageScore 4.0 is mandatory. Classic FICO remains an eligible option for qualifying Enterprise loans.
- Assuming every mortgage is an Enterprise mortgage. Government-insured, portfolio and other channels can have separate requirements.
- Expecting rent reporting to guarantee a higher score. The models may use available rent, utility and telecom histories; availability and scoring impact are not guaranteed.
- Comparing numbers without comparing models. A number from a consumer service may not be the model or data source used by the lender.
- Expecting separate models for co-borrowers. The current Enterprise rule requires one model for all borrowers on a given loan.
- Treating old rollout news as current policy. Check the FHFA policy page and ask the lender close to application and delivery.
What information is still unknown?
The public FHFA materials do not provide a detailed, borrower-level head-to-head formula comparison for VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T. They also do not establish a typical point difference between the models or a rule that one model will score a particular profile higher. Therefore, a claim that one model is universally easier, more generous or better for every borrower goes beyond what the agency’s published information supports.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallLikewise, approval does not establish the fees, underwriting overlays or documentation practices of every lender. Ask the lender about its own process and any charges before ordering a credit report or other service. The model question is important, but it is only one part of the requirements for a specific mortgage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FHFA’s $8.5 trillion figure mean one credit score is preferred?
No. FHFA used that figure in an April 2026 release to describe the scale of funding provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It is market context, not a finding about which model is more favorable or accurate for an individual borrower.
Why did FHFA release historical VantageScore 4.0 scores?
FHFA said in July 2024 that historical scores released by the Enterprises covered tens of millions of loans. The agency later reported additional historical data in 2026; those historical records do not identify the score model a lender will select for a particular new application.
Can a mortgage lender use a different scoring model for me and my co-borrower?
For an Enterprise loan under the current FHFA policy, the lender must use one model for every borrower on the same loan. This is separate from the lender’s ability to choose among eligible models from one loan to another.
Which credit score does a mortgage lender use?
There is no single model for every mortgage. For an eligible Enterprise loan, an approved lender can currently choose Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0. Other loan channels may apply different rules, so ask your lender which model and requirements apply.
Can I request VantageScore 4.0 instead of Classic FICO?
You can ask, but the lender makes the model choice for the loan. VantageScore 4.0 is an available Enterprise option for eligible loans; it is not a borrower-controlled entitlement and is not required for every lender or loan.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: For an eligible Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan in November 2026, an approved lender can use Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0. FICO Score 10T has FHFA approval but is not yet eligible for Enterprise loan delivery. Ask which channel, model and reporting requirements apply to your loan; do not assume a consumer score or an older rollout announcement answers that question.
