The new fee alignment concerns approved loan deliveries
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac published upfront-fee adjustments September 30 aligning Classic FICO and VantageScore 4.0 models, according to FHFA current update. The change concerns pricing for eligible loans delivered using those models. It does not mean every borrower gets the same fee or that lenders stop assessing credit.
FHFA says all approved lenders may use VantageScore 4.0 after the September 9 expansion. Classic FICO remains eligible, and no retirement date has been announced. FICO 10T has been approved as a model but is not currently eligible for loan delivery under the described interim phase.
Borrowers do not get to mix models on one loan
Lenders may choose different approved models across different loans, but must use the same model for all borrowers on a single loan. The agency also says introducing VantageScore 4.0 does not initially change credit-reporting requirements. Model choice is not itself proof that a lender can omit a required report.
Ask the lender which model and current fee schedule apply to an actual offer. FHFA broader discussion of future changes should not be treated as an implemented rule today. The alignment does not calculate a household mortgage quote or guarantee approval for a particular score.