Rocket Mortgage Shifts to VantageScore 4.0 to Expand Homebuyer Access
Rocket Mortgage is breaking a decades-long industry reliance on a single credit scoring model by adopting VantageScore 4.0 as its preferred standard for all eligible loans. The decision follows a four-month trial revealing that the model increases borrower qualification rates while cutting average closing costs by $1,600.
The Detroit-based lender will default to the VantageScore 4.0 model starting in the fourth quarter of 2026 for loans destined for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the VA. CEO Jay Bray noted that the transition aligns with the company’s mission to broaden homeownership access by leveraging a model that tracks credit behavior and payment trends more dynamically than traditional alternatives. By incorporating rent and utility payments, the system generates scores for consumers who might otherwise remain invisible to conventional credit assessments.
Internal data from 1.4 million reports processed this year informed the shift, demonstrating that the new model offers better pricing terms for a wider pool of applicants. While the transition covers most direct-to-consumer products, the lender will maintain FICO scores for specific categories, including jumbo loans, FHA loans, and investment properties. Rocket Pro will continue to offer brokers a choice between both models to maintain flexibility in the mortgage market.
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