Credit score report costs for mortgage lenders have already climbed by as a lot as 50% in 2026, resellers mentioned.
The strikes come amid heightened competitors amongst credit score scoring suppliers after the Federal Housing Finance Company (FHFA) allowed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to start buying loans underwritten with VantageScore 4.0, providing an alternative choice to the long-dominant Traditional FICO rating.
One other change is a nationwide ban on abusive trigger leads that’s set to take impact this week. Prescreened credit score experiences are a product offered by the credit score bureaus, primarily Experian.
The three main bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – didn’t reply to HousingWire‘s requests for feedback. There’s nonetheless some confusion on how the laws will work in follow, these sources added.
An Experian spokesperson instructed HousingWire that the corporate lately communicated to mortgage companions “a brand new strategic pricing construction,” which is able to present “further Experian worth added companies and keep present pricing.”
“The pricing construction is designed to convey a broader set of capabilities throughout the lending lifecycle to our companions, and we’re actively working with them to implement. Any exterior view of influence isn’t based mostly on this engagement or knowledgeable by us,” the spokesperson mentioned.
In accordance with the spokesperson, Experian lowered the value of a standalone VantageScore 4.0 rating to one-third the value of a FICO rating for 2026 — in comparison with about 50% beforehand — whereas VantageScore 4.0 continues to be free in 2026 when bundled with legacy scores.
These actions have been taken to “speed up rating competitors via VantageScore adoption,” which is the “greatest and most accountable approach to result in significant financial savings to the business,” the spokesperson added.
However the discount to the VantageScore value got here with “pricing changes to credit score experiences,” which may be “offset by strategic partnership commitments,” the corporate mentioned final week in a letter despatched to purchasers that was reviewed by HousingWire. The modifications will happen in April.
In October, Experian introduced it will provide VantageScore 4.0 freed from cost to mortgage purchasers. The transfer adopted related selections by Equifax and TransUnion, which, together with Experian, collectively personal VantageScore.
Resellers argue that the most recent enhance by Experian disproportionately impacts mortgage lenders as a result of they’re required to tug credit score experiences from all three bureaus.
“On the buyer facet, you solely have to tug one bureau. However in mortgage, we’re required to tug all three. That’s why they’re placing it on the housing facet. This enhance lies solely on the ft of Experian,” the reseller govt mentioned.
In accordance with resellers, the most recent change might pressure them to renegotiate agreements with lenders simply months after annual contracts have been signed. In some circumstances, contracts prohibit further will increase inside 12 months, which means the added prices could also be absorbed by resellers and squeeze margins.
“We’re working via this thoughtfully and with full consciousness of the broader market surroundings,” Leonard mentioned. “Our dedication stays the identical: to help our purchasers with transparency, stability, and a disciplined method to managing change.”
The Experian spokesperson added that the corporate’s “dedication to transparency in mortgage credit score reporting pricing stays unchanged, and we stay centered on delivering correct, safe and dependable knowledge that helps lenders make sound selections and customers entry credit score responsibly.”
