What Is Experian Mortgage Score?

The Experian Mortgage Score is a 300‑850 credit number that many lenders use to gauge your mortgage risk; it updates each month and is calculated separately from your FICO score.

A score of 750 or higher typically earns the best interest rates and may allow a 3 % down payment, while a score around 660 often results in a modest rate increase and a larger down payment requirement; scores below 600 frequently trigger higher rates, stricter loan terms, or outright denial from many lenders.

Experian Mortgage Score is a proprietary credit model that draws only from the data Experian holds on you, while a FICO Score pulls from whichever bureau you're checking (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax) and is designed for general credit risk. The Mortgage Score adds rental‑payment history, utility bills, and other non‑traditional data that FICO usually ignores, so the same numeric value can reflect different risk profiles.

Many lenders typically look at the Experian Mortgage Score to gauge mortgage‑specific risk because it updates monthly and mirrors the filing schedule of mortgage applications. A FICO Score, on the other hand, changes whenever a new inquiry or account is reported and is used for credit cards, auto loans, and other credit decisions. Consequently, a 720 Experian Mortgage Score may be labeled 'good' for a home loan, whereas a 720 FICO Score is often described as 'very good' in broader credit contexts.

See the next section on Experian score ranges and lender cutoffs for how these numbers translate into loan eligibility. Experian Mortgage Score overview

Experian Mortgage Score spans 300 to 850, and most lenders tier the numbers to decide approval, pricing, and loan‑type eligibility.

• Score categories (commonly referenced):
  •  Below 620  -  considered poor, often limiting borrowers to subprime or higher‑cost products.
  •  620  -  679  -  fair range; many lenders will approve a conventional loan but usually with higher interest rates.
  •  680  -  719  -  good range; typical cutoff for conventional loans that receive average rates.
  •  720  -  759  -  very good; many lenders begin offering 'prime' pricing and lower fees.
  •  760 +  -  excellent; qualifies for the best rates and most flexible terms.

• Typical lender cutoffs by loan type (many lenders):
  • Conventional loans -  minimum 620; prime pricing often starts at 720.
  • FHA loans -  minimum 580 for 3.5 % down, 500  -  579 possible with 10 % down.
  • VA and USDA loans -  usually 620+, though some programs accept slightly lower scores.
  • Jumbo or low‑rate programs -  often require 740 or higher.

These ranges guide the next section on how Experian actually calculates your mortgage score.

Experian Mortgage Score derives from the data on your Experian credit file and is generated by a proprietary mortgage‑score model that updates each month. The model pulls every tradeline, public record, and recent inquiry, then applies a weighted algorithm to output a single number between 300 and 850 that many lenders use in underwriting.

The algorithm emphasizes payment history (about 35 %), credit utilization (≈30 %), length of credit history (≈15 %), new credit (≈10 %) and credit mix (≈10 %). Each factor is scored, summed, and translated into a risk grade that appears on the lender's side of the report. For a deeper dive, see Experian's Mortgage Score overview.

You can view your Experian Mortgage Score online in a few places.

• Log into your Experian mortgage‑score dashboard and select 'Mortgage Score' from the menu.
• Download the free Experian Mortgage Score app on Android or iOS, then sign in with your Experian credentials to see the score instantly.
• Request the score directly from a lender who pulls the Experian Mortgage Score during your loan application; many lenders will provide a copy on request.
• Purchase a standalone Experian Mortgage Score report from the Experian credit‑report portal, which includes the latest mortgage‑specific rating.

Lenders use the Experian Mortgage Score to decide if they'll approve you, what interest rate you'll receive, and which mortgage programs you qualify for.

• Pre‑approval filters: many lenders apply internal cut‑offs (for example, 660  -  720) and automatically decline applications that fall below the threshold.
• Rate tiering: the score slots you into a risk band; a higher Experian Mortgage Score typically earns a lower APR.
• Product eligibility: FHA, VA, and conventional loans each have minimum score requirements, so lenders match your score to the programs you can actually use.
• Loan size and down‑payment rules: a strong score often lets lenders offer a larger loan amount or accept a lower down‑payment percentage.
• Score monitoring: lenders receive monthly Experian updates; a sudden dip can cause a rate‑lock loss or trigger a request for additional documentation.

Because lenders base these decisions on the score's placement within their cut‑offs, improving the factors that drive the Experian Mortgage Score moves you into a more favorable tier, a topic covered in the next section.

Raise your Experian Mortgage Score quickly by correcting report errors, lowering debt, and optimizing credit habits. Follow these seven actions to see a measurable boost in a few months.

1. Pull the latest report - Use the method described in 'where to find your Experian Mortgage Score' to get the most current data. Errors are the fastest way to lose points.
2. Dispute inaccuracies - If the report shows late payments, balances, or accounts you don't recognize, file a dispute through Experian's online portal. Corrections can raise the score within 30 days.
3. Pay down revolving balances - Reduce credit‑card utilization to below 30 % of the limit; many lenders view lower utilization as lower risk, which lifts the Experian Mortgage Score.
4. Avoid new hard inquiries - Each new mortgage or auto loan pull can shave a few points. Keep applications to a minimum while you're improving the score.
5. Keep older accounts open - Length of credit history matters. Even if you don't use a long‑standing card, leaving it active adds positively to the Experian Mortgage Score.
6. Set up automatic, on‑time payments - Payment history is the biggest factor. Automating payments eliminates missed due dates and signals reliability to many lenders.
7. Add a small, managed credit line - If you have a thin file, a secured credit card or becoming an authorized user on a family member's account can generate positive activity that the Experian Mortgage Score rewards.

Implement these steps promptly; most borrowers see a noticeable increase within 60‑90 days, as discussed in the upcoming 'how long it takes to raise your mortgage score' section.

You can see a noticeable bump in your Experian Mortgage Score within 30 to 60 days if you clear revolving balances, add a timely utility payment, or dispute a single error that gets removed. Because Experian refreshes the mortgage model monthly, any corrected information appears in the next cycle, giving a quick lift for modest changes.

For larger moves - say, raising the score from the low‑600s into the 700s - you'll need sustained, positive activity over three to six months. Consistently paying down debt, keeping credit utilization under 30 percent, and avoiding new hard inquiries compound each month, allowing the score to climb steadily. In rare cases where a thin file or serious derogatory marks exist, it may take up to a year of clean behavior before the Experian Mortgage Score reflects a substantial improvement.

Many lenders treat a borderline Experian Mortgage Score as a signal to tighten the loan package. Scores that sit just above a typical cutoff (for example 660‑680) often trigger higher rates, larger down‑payment requirements, or a shift from automated to manual underwriting.

Typically, lenders will ask for extra documentation - steady employment history, lower debt‑to‑income ratios, or a larger cash reserve - to offset perceived risk. Some may offer a 'conditional approval' that becomes final only after the borrower demonstrates the ability to cover a higher upfront cost, such as a 20% down payment instead of the usual 5%‑10%.

If you land in this zone, strengthening other profile elements can tip the balance. Reducing credit card balances, saving for a bigger down payment, or exploring loan programs that accept lower scores are common strategies; the next section on self‑employed or thin‑file borrowers expands on those alternatives. Experian Mortgage Score cutoffs guide

The 665 Equifax score can look identical on paper but often diverges from a 665 you'd see from Experian or TransUnion because each bureau runs its own version of the FICO algorithm and applies slightly different weightings to the same data. In 2024 Equifax's model places a bit more emphasis on credit mix and recent inquiries, which means a 665 Equifax score may be pulled down by a recent hard pull that Experian would discount more heavily.

Equifax also reports certain alternative data - such as rent, utility bills and some medical collections - more aggressively than the other two bureaus. Those items can shave points off a 665 Equifax score while leaving the Experian or TransUnion numbers relatively untouched. Conversely, Equifax tends to treat closed‑in‑good‑standing accounts as positive history longer than its peers, so a 665 Equifax score might actually hide stronger underlying credit behavior that Experian would penalize sooner. Equifax 2024 scoring model details.

Because lenders often take the lowest bureau score, a 665 Equifax score may become the limiting factor even if your Experian or TransUnion numbers sit in the 'good' range. However, some auto‑finance and mortgage programs rely exclusively on the Equifax pull, so the same 665 could be judged as 'acceptable' in those cases. This nuance leads directly into the next section on hidden flags that make 665 look worse to lenders.

Fix errors on your Experian mortgage report by disputing inaccurate items directly with Experian. Removing mistakes can raise your Experian Mortgage Score and improve lender offers.

• Obtain the latest report from the Experian portal (How to dispute a credit report) or by phone.
• Scan each line for personal data errors, outdated accounts, or wrong payment status.
• Collect supporting documents such as bank statements, loan statements, or identity verification.
• Submit a dispute online or by certified mail, clearly stating the item, the error, and attaching proof.
• Keep a copy of the dispute and any correspondence; Experian must investigate within 30 days.
• Review the updated report; if the correction appears, confirm the Experian Mortgage Score reflects the change.
• If a lender still uses the old figure, provide the corrected report and a brief note explaining the update.