 TITLE: Which Credit Scores Do Mortgage Lenders Use? CONTENT: What Scores and Models Are Used When Applying for a Mortgage?\n-------------------------------------------------------------\nFICO® created different scoring models for each credit bureau—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. The commonly used FICO® Scores for mortgage lending are:\n*   **FICO® Score 2**, or Experian\/Fair Isaac Risk Model v2\n*   **FICO® Score 5**, or Equifax Beacon 5\n*   **FICO® Score 4**, or TransUnion FICO® Risk Score 04\nMortgage lenders will often get a single report that contains your credit reports from each of the three credit bureaus and the associated FICO® Scores. It may base the lending decision on your middle credit score or, if you're applying jointly with a partner, the lower middle score.\nKeep this in mind when you're trying to figure out what credit score you need to get a mortgage. If you're looking for a mortgage that requires a minimum credit score of 580, you may need your middle score to be at least 580 based one these specific FICO® Score models.\nThere are exceptions, though. Mortgage lenders could use different credit scoring models for loans that aren't secured or bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. You might even be able to get a mortgage if you don't have a credit history or score at all.\nAdditionally, there's a review underway that could open up the use of different credit scoring models for mortgages, even if they're secured or bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. However, until there's a change, many mortgage lenders will continue to use these three classic FICO® Scores. END