Free credit tools for home buyers from The Rate Update with Dan Frio
Free · No credit card · No score impact
Get Your Free Credit Scores Before You Buy a Home
See your free credit scores in minutes, with no credit card and no impact to your score. Then check the VantageScore 4.0 and FICO scores mortgage lenders use, with guidance from 30+ year mortgage veteran Dan Frio of The Rate Update.
Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Buying a home? Start here
Know Your Score, Free
Before you talk to a lender, see where your credit stands. It's the same first step I give every buyer I work with.
- Free, no credit card
- Checking won't lower your score
- See your TransUnion and Equifax scores
Credit Karma shows VantageScore 3.0. Mortgage lender scores may differ. Affiliate link.
Get Mortgage-Ready in 3 Steps: Your Free Score, VantageScore & FICO
Mortgage lenders now have a choice of credit score. Since September 9, 2026, every lender that sells loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can qualify you with VantageScore 4.0 or the Classic FICO mortgage scores, and FHA will also accept VantageScore 4.0 for case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2027 (Mortgagee Letter 2026-11). Check both before you apply so there are no surprises.
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Free · no card · no score impact
Check Your Free Credit Score
Start with a free look at your credit. Credit Karma shows your VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and Equifax, the closest free view of the VantageScore 4.0 a lender can now use.
Get My Free Score2
New for 2026 mortgages
Understand Your VantageScore 4.0
VantageScore 4.0 can count rent, utility and phone payments and can score people with a thin credit history. Learn how it works, how it differs from 3.0, and how to raise it.
Read the VantageScore Guide3
The scores most lenders pull
See Your Mortgage FICO Scores
Most lenders still use FICO Score 2 (Experian), 4 (TransUnion) and 5 (Equifax). Start with FICO Basic from myFICO to see your Experian mortgage score (FICO Score 2), or upgrade to a 3-bureau plan to see all three.
See My FICO ScoresOr get all 3 FICO scores with MyScoreIQ →Know your scores? Shop your mortgage the smart way.
One application. One credit pull. 30+ lenders compared. From Dan Frio of The Rate Update.
Dan Frio | NMLS #246527 | PBT Bancorp | NMLS #257781. Mortgage products are originated by PBT Bancorp, NMLS #257781. Equal Housing Lender.
Mortgage Credit Score Questions
Which credit score will my mortgage lender use?
For loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the lender chooses either VantageScore 4.0 or Classic FICO (FICO Score 2, 4 and 5). Many lenders still pull the FICO mortgage scores, so it pays to know both. Lenders typically use the middle of your three scores.
Where can I see my VantageScore 4.0?
Few consumer sites show VantageScore 4.0 yet. Most free apps, including Credit Karma, show VantageScore 3.0, which uses a similar scale and is usually close. Your lender will see your 4.0 score when they pull your credit.
Will checking my own credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own score through Credit Karma or myFICO is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Only a lender's hard pull for an application can.
What credit score do I need to buy a home?
Conventional loans generally start at 620. FHA loans can allow scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down. Higher scores usually mean a lower rate and lower mortgage insurance, so a few points can save real money. See the minimum score for every loan type →
Disclosure: some links above are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Credit scores and lender requirements vary.
Smart Credit
New Way to Manage Your CREDIT SCORE
Credit Score Success: The System I Use to Track and Rebuild Credit
In this 10-minute video, Dan Frio shows the credit tool he subscribes to himself and why he stopped trusting paid credit repair. You'll see how to:
- Find out which credit score you really have, and why the number in a free app often isn't the one lenders use
- See which accounts help your score and which ones hurt it, and why
- Dispute report errors and ask creditors for goodwill corrections yourself, without paying a credit repair company
- Test how paying down specific balances could raise your score before you apply for a mortgage
Recorded in 2023. Scores shown in the video are examples. SmartCredit links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Credit Builder Card
It's Time to Build Your CREDIT
Credit Builder Card is a secured credit card marketplace. Based on the state you live in, we match you with a secured credit card that has a low $200 security….
Safe and Secure
Reports to all 3 Bureaus
No credit check
what we offer
Why use Credit Scores and More
With over 30 Years in the Lending field, I have been able to help THOUSANDS of people and now I have developed this process to not only provide you with the information you need but the TOOL and a PROCESS to do something about it.
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FREE SCORES
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CREDIT MONITORING
03
BUILD CREDIT
04
FIX CREDIT ERRORS
Watch: The Credit Score Hack That Actually Works
Manage Your Credit in One Place
SmartCredit lets you see your credit reports and scores, get alerts when something changes, and use tools that show which actions can move your score. Know where you stand before you apply for a mortgage, car loan or credit card.
Already a SmartCredit member? Reactivate your SmartCredit account →
Buying a Home? Know Your Mortgage Score
Mortgage lenders use different credit scores than most apps show you. Learn which scores they pull and how to raise yours before you apply.
READ THE GUIDENeed Help With A Mortgage?
Looking for help as a first-time home buyer, or trying to save money by refinancing? Start your application in minutes.
APPLY NOWDan Frio | NMLS #246527 | PBT Bancorp | NMLS #257781. Mortgage products are originated by PBT Bancorp, NMLS #257781. Equal Housing Lender.