It’s easy to assume that FICO scores are a lender's number one factor in approving a home loan. But FICO scores are just one factor the lender considers, along with your debt ratio, verifiable income, and employment history.

FHA.com: Home Purchase and Refinance Loans

FHA Loan Programs for 2024

The most recognized 3.5% down payment mortgage in the country. Affordable payments w/good credit.

Are You Watching Your Credit Score?




- Improving Your Credit Score Has Never Been More Important -

FHA.com is a privately owned website, is not a government agency, and does not make loans.
FHA Home Loans

Choose a Loan Type

FHA.com is a privately owned website, is not a government agency, and does not make loans.

FHA Loan Approval: Why Credit History Matters

March 7, 2023

credit-a19-640f57f126138.png
It’s easy to assume that FICO scores are a lender's number one factor in approving a home loan. But FICO scores are just one factor the lender considers, along with your debt ratio, verifiable income, and employment history.

Did you know that your record of on-time payments is just as important as your FICO scores for getting FHA loan approval?

Some may wonder why this is. Some advice from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on this subject includes an important reminder; some late payments might hurt your ability to qualify for a mortgage more than others.

How is a lender expected to react if a loan applicant has late and missed payments on a home or apartment in their recent credit history?

Credit Reporting of Rental Housing Payments

CFPB notes that credit reporting of rental history is a factor to consider when applying for an FHA mortgage. “At least one of the big three consumer reporting agencies, Experian, uses rental payment and collection information in its credit reports.”

And while it’s true that not all rental properties report to Experian, CFPB also notes, “There are also specialty consumer reporting agencies that compile information” for landlords to help them screen applicants.

Aim for 12 Months of On-Time Payments

Consider NOT applying for a home loan until you have 12 months of consistent, on-time, every-time payments in your credit history.
 
This helps the lender justify approving your mortgage application. If your recent credit history shows a pattern of late or missed payments, it gets much more challenging for the lender to justify approving the loan.

FHA Positive Rental History Policy

The FHA updated its single-family loan policies to help those with 12 months of on-time payments on rental housing to use that record to qualify for the mortgage. According to HUD.gov, “FHA considers positive rental payment history as the on-time payment of all rental payments in the previous 12 months.”
 
To use this “added factor” for loan approval, the lender must “obtain verification of the borrower’s on-time rental payments and indicate via a new indicator within the Scorecard the submission of a positive rental payment history for the borrower.”

As you can see from the above, credit history can definitely work in the borrower’s favor when using rental history to qualify for a loan. It’s not the only place where it matters, but your rental payment record is an important place you can start when planning for your home loan.

------------------------------

RELATED VIDEOS:
Homebuyers Benefit From the Work Done by Fannie Mae
HUD 4000.1 is Sometimes Called the FHA Handbook
Credit History Is Presented as Your FICO Score

Do you know what's on your credit report?

Learn what your score means.