FHA credit score models expected to keep Classic FICO in January launch

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Loan officers should be ready for new FHA scoring options, but early lender expectations point to Classic FICO staying in the mix and consistency being required at the loan level.

FHA credit score models are expected to expand in January, but lenders do not expect FHA to drop Classic FICO when the new models arrive, according to HousingWire reporting published August 28, 2026. The same report says lenders expect model consistency will be required at the loan level, which would keep one FHA file from being underwritten using a mix of different scoring models.

That matters because FHA production touches a lot of first-time buyers, thinner-credit borrowers, and referral partners who need straight answers. If Classic FICO remains available while new models are added, loan officers may have more scoring paths eventually — but the immediate job is to understand which model a lender is using on a specific loan and how that choice affects documentation, pricing, and borrower counseling.

Key takeaways

• HousingWire reports FHA is expected to keep Classic FICO as it adds new credit score models in January.
• Lenders reportedly expect loan-level credit score consistency, meaning a file would not mix scoring models within the same loan decision.
• The supplied source does not confirm final HUD/FHA implementation guidance, exact model names, or a specific January effective date.
• For loan officers, the practical issue is not just borrower eligibility — it is how lenders, AUS, credit vendors, and overlays line up operationally.

Sources

• HousingWire — FHA expected to keep Classic FICO as it adds new models in January

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