Real Estate & Consumer Finance
FHA Sets Office Hours Ahead of January Credit-Score Expansion
Lenders can use a series of federal sessions to prepare for VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10T alongside Classic FICO in FHA underwriting.
A transition window for lenders
The Federal Housing Administration is preparing mortgagees for the January 1 addition of VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10T as eligible credit models alongside Classic FICO. FHA announced virtual office hours running from November 15 through January 15. The sessions are implementation support for industry participants; they are not individual mortgage-counseling appointments or loan approvals.
What is changing
FHA formalized the updated minimum decision credit-score method in Mortgage Letter 2026-11. The policy expands the score models acceptable in FHA-insured mortgage underwriting rather than replacing Classic FICO on the implementation date. Lenders still must follow FHA handbook requirements, automated underwriting instructions and any technical guidance that applies to a submitted loan.
What a borrower should not assume
Adding eligible models does not guarantee that a particular applicant's score, rate or approval outcome will improve. Models can weigh credit information differently, while underwriting also considers income, debts, property details and program rules. Borrowers should ask a participating lender which model and process apply to an application and should avoid treating a broad policy announcement as a personalized eligibility decision.
Operational work before January
Mortgagees need to align vendor systems, staff training, disclosures, quality controls and loan-file documentation with the new option. FHA's preparedness guide and questions-and-answers page are the primary implementation resources. The office hours create a channel for common questions, but written policy controls when an oral explanation and formal instruction differ.
Why the date distinction matters
The expanded model eligibility was announced earlier in 2026, the methodology was formalized in October, office hours were announced November 4 and implementation begins January 1. Keeping those dates separate avoids presenting the change as already active. Consumers and lenders should check the FHA page for later revisions before relying on the current schedule.
Primary evidence
Reporting note: This independently composed article is based on the linked primary records. Publication and event dates are stated separately. Agency claims are identified as such; an allegation, charge or scheduled event is not presented as a finding, conviction or completed event. Readers should consult the official record for amendments and later action.