December 18, 2025
by
Kara Benton
Not all credit scoring models are the same but now you can check the same credit score mortgage lenders use right in the Foyer app - and get rewarded for every point you improve. (Of course, we’re here to help you do it.)
At Foyer, we simplify the path to homeownership for first-time buyers. With personalized guidance and a roadmap tailored to your financial goals, you're never alone in this journey.
We have big news. Starting today, all Foyer members can check their credit score using VantageScore 4.0—the same score mortgage lenders are now using to approve home loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which together account for the majority of mortgages in the U.S.
One more step toward our vision of making Foyer the destination for everything you need to prepare for homeownership.
In July 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) made a historic announcement: VantageScore 4.0 would be immediately accepted for all mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This ended decades of relying on a single outdated scoring model and opened the door for millions of creditworthy Americans to qualify for homeownership.
VantageScore 4.0 is different from older credit scores in some powerful ways:
It scores 33 million more Americans than traditional models. If you've been told you don't have enough credit history, VantageScore 4.0 might tell a different story.
It considers trended credit data, meaning it looks at your credit behavior over time rather than just a single snapshot. This gives a more complete picture of how you actually manage credit.
It incorporates alternative data like rent, utility, and telecommunications payments—the bills you're probably already paying on time but weren't getting credit for.
It doesn't require recent credit activity. Traditional models penalized people who hadn't used credit recently, even if their credit history was excellent. VantageScore 4.0 eliminates this barrier, which is especially helpful for veterans, retirees, and anyone who's been managing their finances well without actively using credit.
It works for people new to credit. Older models required your credit file to be at least six months old. VantageScore 4.0 eliminates this requirement, opening doors for young adults and others just starting to build credit.
Here's the thing about credit scores: there are dozens of different scoring models out there. You might have checked your credit score through your bank or a credit monitoring app and seen one number. But when you apply for a mortgage, lenders often use a different scoring model—and sometimes you'd see a different score.
With VantageScore 4.0 now accepted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, you can see the same type of score mortgage lenders are actually using. No more surprises. No more wondering if the score you're working to improve is the score that matters when it's time to buy.
And because VantageScore 4.0 is more inclusive, you might actually qualify for a mortgage even if older scoring models said you didn't have enough credit history. An estimated five million Americans, including Veterans and prospective buyers in rural communities, are expected to benefit from this change.
Rewards! Of course there’s rewards. Helping you save more and faster is what we’re all about. Once you start tracking your score in the app, for every point you gain on your credit score, you’ll earn $3 in Foyer rewards. For every. single. point. And, frankly, when you put your mind to the task, for most of us, raising your score a bit is not THAT challenging.
Because, of course, you guessed it—our pros have the skills and the knowledge and they’re here exclusively to help our Foyer members.
When we started Foyer, our vision was to be the single place where aspiring homeowners could do everything they need to prepare to buy. Not scattered across ten different apps and websites. Not juggling advice from forums and TikTok. One place. One journey. Step-by-step, meeting you in your moment.
Here's what that looks like now:
✓ Save for your down payment with our high-yield first-time homebuyer savings accounts
✓ Get matched savings through our 401k-like match program
✓ Lean on our team of industry pros for advice, referrals, education or just a gutcheck
✓ Check your mortgage credit score with VantageScore 4.0 (new!)
✓ Track your progress toward credit score goals
✓ Learn how to improve your credit with personalized guidance
✓ Discover down payment assistance you qualify for
✓ Connect with trusted partners for mortgages, inspections, and more
✓ Understand every step of the homebuying process
The acceptance of VantageScore 4.0 isn't just good for individual homebuyers—it's transformative for the entire mortgage market.
Credit score competition could enable up to $1 trillion in high-quality mortgage loans, according to VantageScore analysis. That's real money going to creditworthy borrowers who were previously excluded by outdated scoring models.
The model has been validated by independent research. Analysts at Bank of America found that VantageScore 4.0's innovative incorporation of alternative data sources results in the most predictive credit score for mortgages.
For Foyer members specifically, this means you're checking a credit score that:
Where to find it: Log into your Foyer account and navigate to the “Credit” section. Your VantageScore 4.0 will be displayed prominently, along with the factors affecting it.
How often it updates: Your score updates regularly as new information is reported to the credit bureaus. We recommend checking it monthly to track your progress.
What score you need: While requirements vary by lender and loan type, here are general guidelines:
How to improve it: We provide personalized guidance based on your specific credit profile. Common strategies include paying down credit card balances, disputing errors, and making all payments on time.
Is it free? Yes. Checking your VantageScore 4.0 as a Foyer member is completely free and doesn't affect your credit score.
Consider Maria, a 26-year-old teacher who's been renting and paying every bill on time for three years. Under older credit scoring models, she struggled to get a strong score because she'd only had a credit card for 18 months and didn't have an auto loan or other traditional credit.
With VantageScore 4.0, Maria's consistent rent and utility payments now count. Her credit file being less than six months old when she first started building credit? Not a problem anymore. She went from borderline to solidly qualified for a mortgage—all because the scoring model finally recognized the responsible financial behavior she'd been demonstrating all along.
Or take James, a recently retired veteran who hasn't used credit cards in five years because he pays cash for everything. Traditional models penalized him for not having "recent" credit activity, even though his credit history was spotless. VantageScore 4.0 recognizes his excellent history without requiring recent activity, making it easier for him to qualify for a mortgage when he's ready.
These aren't hypothetical scenarios. These are real situations affecting millions of Americans who were creditworthy but invisible to older scoring models.
We started Foyer because we saw too many people giving up on homeownership. Not because they weren't capable. Not because they weren't responsible. But because the path was too confusing, too fragmented, and frankly, too discouraging.
You shouldn't need to be a financial expert to buy your first home. You shouldn't need to navigate ten different platforms. And you definitely shouldn't be penalized by outdated scoring models that don't reflect the reality of how you manage money.
Every feature we add—from high-yield savings with matched contributions to a team of at-the-ready home advisors to bitesize education to VantageScore 4.0 credit checks—is designed to remove one more barrier between you and the front door of your first home.
We're building the platform we wish had existed when we were trying to buy our first homes. A place that meets you wherever you are in your journey and gives you a clear, personal path forward.
Ready to check your VantageScore 4.0 and see where you stand?
Already a Foyer member? Log in to your account and navigate to the Credit section. Your VantageScore 4.0 is waiting.
New to Foyer? Sign up for free and get instant access to your mortgage credit score, plus all our homebuying preparation tools.
The dream of homeownership isn't dead. It just needed better tools. We're building them.
One member at a time. One feature at a time. One step closer to your first home.
About VantageScore 4.0
VantageScore 4.0 is the latest credit scoring model from VantageScore Solutions, LLC, a joint venture of the three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). The model uses machine learning to score 33 million more Americans than traditional models and incorporates trended credit data and alternative payment information for the most predictive mortgage credit score available.
About Foyer
Foyer is a fintech company dedicated to making homeownership accessible and achievable for everyone. We provide First-Time Homebuyer Savings Accounts, matched savings programs, credit monitoring, and comprehensive homebuying education—all in one platform designed to give you a personal path to homeownership.
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Foyer is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Pacific West Bank, Member FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank.
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