My Mortgage Score Hot Topics

Hot Topics

Why Your Free Credit Score Might Be Costing You a Better Mortgage Deal


Let’s be honest, free credit scores are everywhere. Your bank app shows one, that budgeting tool you downloaded shows another, and then there’s that one site promising a “real” score that just asks for your email and five pop-ups later you’re still unsure what you’re looking at.

But here’s the truth:
Free credit scores are not your mortgage credit score.

In the mortgage world, lenders use a very specific scoring model—usually a version of FICO that’s different from what most free services provide. So while your favorite app might say your score is a 740, your actual mortgage score could be much lower... or higher.

Why does this matter?

Because your mortgage score directly affects:

Your interest rate

Your loan approval chances

The programs you qualify for

How much home you can afford

If you're shopping for a home, relying on a free score can leave you blindsided. It’s like studying for a final with last year’s exam—you feel ready, but come test day, none of the questions match.

My Mortgage Score gives you the score that actually counts—so you can prepare with confidence and show up ready to win.

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