Mindy Leisure Director of Rescoring Services In September, Fannie Mae announced that on November 17, 2025 they would start adding Vantage 4.0 to their disclosures. This announcement was made in preparation for their ability to accept the Vantage 4.0 score. The systems must be integrated first, which they are currently working on. With this announcement though, comes a great deal of … Read more
In 2025, national credit scores experienced a decline, with the average decreasing to 715. This represents a three-point decrease from 2023, marking the end of a decade-long upward trend. Generation Z consumers were most affected, with their average score now at 676, a significant year-over-year decline not seen in other age groups for several years. … Read more
The Homeowners Privacy Protection Act, also known as the Trigger Leads Bill, was introduced on April 10, 2025. After undergoing committee review and a few amendments, it was passed by Congress on August 2, 2025. The primary purpose of the bill is “to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prevent consumer reporting agencies from … Read more
On July 8th, FHFA Director Bill Pulte announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), are to commence using the Vantage 4.0 scoring model. He further stated that this change would be implemented “effective immediately.” While encouraging the GSEs to adopt the Vantage 4.0 scores may be beneficial, the abrupt timing of … Read more
In January 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a regulation to remove all medical debt, whether paid or unpaid, from credit reports. This measure was intended to benefit many consumers who are negatively impacted by medical debt collections appearing on their credit reports. Although the initiative faced considerable opposition from various industry sectors, … Read more
Many consumers find credit scores to be complicated and difficult to understand. Due to the numerous variations of different scoring models, it can be particularly challenging. When reviewing your credit scores, it is important to recognize whether you are viewing a FICO score or a VantageScore. Additionally, if you are looking at a FICO score, … Read more
The practice of purchasing tradelines involves adding a borrower as an authorized user on an existing credit account. Though this tactic is currently legal, it raises significant ethical and practical concerns. Typically, consumers pay a third party to be added to an established credit account—not to use the account, but to benefit from its positive … Read more
Maintaining a strong credit score is crucial, especially for individuals seeking a mortgage or considering refinancing. Discovering discrepancies on your credit report can be frustrating, often leading to a desire for a quick fix. However, attempting to resolve these issues hastily can sometimes lead to further complications—or even legal trouble. Understanding what to avoid is … Read more
Over the past year, several promising advancements were proposed for the credit industry, including the removal of medical debt from credit reports, adjustments to trigger leads (credit offers based on consumer inquiries), and the development of the FHFA Credit Score Initiative aimed at improving credit scoring fairness. However, these initiatives are currently on hold due … Read more