What Is Your TransUnion Mortgage Score?

The TransUnion mortgage score is a 300‑850 numeric model that lenders use to predict mortgage risk; it evaluates on‑time mortgage payments, overall payment history across all revolving and installment accounts, credit utilization, length of credit history, mix of credit types, recent hard inquiries, and any public records or collections.TransUnion mortgage score overview

For instance, a homeowner who has paid a 30‑year mortgage for 15 years, keeps credit‑card balances below 30% of limits, and has no recent delinquencies typically lands in the high‑700s. By contrast, a borrower who missed two mortgage payments in the past year, carries credit‑card balances at 90% utilization, and opened three new credit accounts during the last six months may see a score under 620. Lenders often set cut‑offs - conventional loans may require ~680, while many FHA programs accept scores around 620 - details explored in the next section.

TransUnion mortgage score runs from 300 to 850, and lenders map those numbers to risk buckets that drive approval odds and rate tiers.

• 760‑850 : Excellent - qualifies for the lowest‑priced conventional, FHA, and VA loans
• 700‑759 : Very Good - gets competitive conventional rates, often meets FHA minimum of 580
• 660‑699 : Good - common cutoff for most conventional lenders, usually clears FHA/VA underwriting
• 620‑659 : Fair - may secure FHA loans at 580 + or VA loans with strong compensating factors
• below 620 : Poor - limits options to subprime or non‑prime programs, higher rates, larger down payments

Lenders typically enforce these cutoffs:

• Conventional mortgages - 620 + for approval, 660 + for better rates, 720 + for best rates
• FHA loans - 580 + for 3.5% down, 500‑579 + with 10% down (score still influences rate)
• VA loans - no formal minimum, but 620 + is common for optimal pricing
• Jumbo loans - often require 700 +

These ranges reflect current industry practice, as outlined by TransUnion's mortgage‑score guidelines.

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The TransUnion mortgage score mirrors a FICO model but isn't identical; lenders usually pull TransUnion's version of FICO 2 or 5, while the standard FICO score you see on credit‑report sites is often FICO 8 or 9. Because the two use slightly different data windows, the same borrower can see a 30‑point gap - TransUnion may reward on‑time rent payments that the generic FICO overlooks.

In practice, a 720 TransUnion mortgage score generally falls in the same 'good' tier as a 720 FICO, but a borrower with 680 on FICO might appear as 700 on TransUnion, nudging lenders toward better terms. (TransUnion mortgage score overview, FICO score basics)

VantageScore follows its own algorithm, weighing recent activity more heavily and treating medical collections differently. As a result, a borrower who recently paid off a medical bill could jump from 660 to 690 on VantageScore, while the TransUnion mortgage score might stay around 655 because it still counts the original debt.

Lenders who rely on VantageScore therefore may approve marginal applicants that a TransUnion mortgage score would flag, and vice‑versa. Knowing which model your lender prefers helps you target the right credit‑building moves before you apply. (VantageScore credit model details)

You can view a TransUnion mortgage score without paying by starting a free trial on TransUnion's consumer portal or through its authorized partner.

1. Visit the TransUnion credit‑score page.
   Click 'Get your score' and choose the 'Free trial' option; the trial lasts 30 days and includes a one‑time mortgage‑score report.
2. Create an account with your name, email, and Social Security number.
   TransUnion validates your identity instantly, then displays the mortgage score alongside the standard credit score.
3. Review the score details, including the range (300‑850) and the lender‑specific cutoff shown in the previous section.
   Note the date of the pull; the free trial does not refresh automatically, so you'll need to re‑subscribe for ongoing updates.
4. If you prefer a partner site, go to The Credit People and select 'Free mortgage score preview.'
   The process mirrors the TransUnion trial - sign up, verify identity, and receive a single mortgage‑score snapshot at no charge.
5. After the trial, decide whether to keep the service or cancel before the renewal date to avoid fees.
   Your score remains on your credit file, so you can still request it later through a paid subscription or a lender's pre‑approval tool.

A higher TransUnion mortgage score puts you in a better tier, and lenders typically respond with lower mortgage rates.

• 300  -  549 (high‑risk) - lenders often apply the highest rate spreads; borrowers may need to add a larger margin above the lender's base rate.
• 550  -  649 (sub‑prime) - rates are usually above the prime benchmark, but the exact premium depends on the lender's pricing model and market conditions.
• 650  -  749 (prime) - borrowers often qualify for rates close to the lender's best‑available offer; the spread may be modest or none at all.
• 750  -  850 (super‑prime) - borrowers are eligible for the most competitive rates; lenders may match or undercut the prime benchmark, though no fixed percentage is guaranteed.

The impact of moving from one tier to the next varies by lender, loan program, and the overall interest‑rate environment; a 40‑point jump can shave a few basis points, but the exact amount is not set by TransUnion. If your score falls in a lower tier, the following section outlines five quick fixes to boost it before you apply.

Pay down balances, fix delinquencies, clean errors, diversify credit, and preserve history - those five actions lift your TransUnion mortgage score fast.

• Reduce credit‑card utilization below 30 % (ideally under 10 %) by paying down balances; lenders view lower utilization as lower risk, which can add 20‑30 points TransUnion explains credit utilization impact.
• Bring any past‑due accounts current within 30 days; recent on‑time payments improve the payment history component immediately.
• Dispute duplicate or inaccurate items on your TransUnion report; a successful correction often raises the score by 20‑40 points TransUnion dispute portal.
• Add an installment loan (auto, personal, or student) if you only have revolving debt; a mix of credit types boosts the score's credit‑mix factor.
• Keep long‑standing accounts open; length of credit history makes up to 15 % of the score, so closing a 10‑year card can drop points.

Fix any TransUnion report errors now to protect your TransUnion mortgage score before you apply.

1. Get the report - Use the free annual‑credit‑report portal to download your TransUnion credit report.
2. Spot the mistakes - Look for wrong personal details, accounts that don't belong to you, duplicated entries, or inaccurate payment histories. A misspelled address once knocked a borrower's score 20 points.
3. Collect proof - Pull statements, bank letters, or settlement documents that show the correct information.
4. File a dispute - Go to the file a dispute with TransUnion page, enter the item number, attach your proof, and explain how the error skews your TransUnion mortgage score.
5. Verify the outcome - TransUnion must investigate within 30 days. Review the updated report; if the item remains, repeat the dispute or contact the creditor directly.
6. Retest the score - After corrections appear, request a fresh TransUnion mortgage score check before submitting any loan application.

A strong co‑signer can tip your loan from 'maybe' to 'yes' when their TransUnion mortgage score meets or exceeds the lender's cut‑off while yours falls short. Lenders typically run a separate credit pull on the co‑signer, then weigh the combined risk; a 750‑point score often offsets a primary score in the 620‑range enough to satisfy most 660‑plus thresholds (see the 'score ranges' section above).

If the primary borrower's debt‑to‑income ratio is already high, or the co‑signer's TransUnion mortgage score is also low, the addition provides little benefit and may even raise the household's overall debt load. Remember, the co‑signer assumes full liability, which can limit their own borrowing power. Weigh these factors before deciding, and consider the upcoming 'alternative credit' options if a co‑signer isn't viable. Using a co‑signer for a mortgage

Use alternative credit by adding consistent rent, utility, telecom or insurance payments to your TransUnion mortgage score file. Lenders that accept non‑traditional data will pull these records and treat them like on‑time loan payments, which can lift a thin or missing score into an acceptable range.

Enroll with the TransUnion RentBureau reporting service, ask your landlord to submit rent history, or use a third‑party aggregator that streams utility and phone bills to TransUnion. Once the data appears in your credit file, it feeds into the mortgage score calculation, giving you a stronger profile for the case studies we explore later.

Here are three real borrowers who moved their TransUnion mortgage score and the loan terms they secured:

• Sarah, 34, single mom - Started at 620, paid down a $5,000 credit‑card balance and added utility‑bill reporting. Score climbed to 680, letting her lock a 30‑year fixed at 4.125% instead of the 4.75% she'd been quoted before.
• Mark & Lisa, 42, married - Had 710, discovered a misreported collection on their report. After filing a dispute and getting the item removed, their score rose to 750, resulting in a 15‑year fixed at 3.875% - a full 0.5% lower than the rate offered at 710.
• Carlos, 29, self‑employed - Scored 640, built six months of alternative credit by reporting rent and phone payments through a third‑party platform. Score increased to 695, qualifying him for a 20‑year loan at 4.0% versus the 4.5% he'd face with the lower score.

For more detail on how these score changes affect lender decisions, see the TransUnion mortgage score overview.