Clearing the path to homeownership for renters

April 23, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Marketplace Morning Report discusses recent policy shifts easing mortgage access for renters, alongside investor calm amid Middle East tensions and a journalism student's perspective on entering a tough job market.

New Options for Proving Creditworthiness in Mortgages

Lenders can now factor in renters' payment histories beyond traditional FICO scores when assessing mortgage applications. Previously, creditworthiness relied solely on records like credit card and auto loan payments. The Trump administration's change allows use of VantageScore 4.0, which incorporates on-time rental payments, utility bills, and other data not previously counted for home loans.

This applies to mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, which back most U.S. mortgages. Big lenders including Rocket Mortgage and 19 others can adopt it immediately. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte noted that AI analyzes these models, stating they do not increase risk and may even reduce it. The shift aims to help renters with thin credit files qualify more easily, clearing a path to homeownership by recognizing consistent non-traditional payments.

Markets Brush Off Strait of Hormuz Closure

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What you'll learn

1 (01:05) **Mortgage Credit Changes**
2 (02:30) **🎙️ Strait of Hormuz Closure & Markets - Russ Mold (AJ Bell)**
3 (05:44) **College Job Market Outlook - Alicia Robinson (Journalism Student)**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

The Trump administration announced a big change in how people's credit is assessed when applying for mortgages. Instead of only using FICO scores to prove creditworthiness, prospective homebuyers can now use a separate score model — one that considers things like rent and utility payment history — when applying for loans from mortgage lenders, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Also on the show: discussions of the market's bullishness and plans for a graduate degree in a tumultuous job market.