
As a mortgage broker, having access to accurate and up-to-date credit reports is crucial for making informed lending decisions.
Credit reports play a vital role in the mortgage application process, and understanding how to interpret them is essential for brokers.
According to the article, credit reports contain information on an individual's credit history, including payment history, credit utilization, and public records.
This information can be used to assess the borrower's creditworthiness and determine the likelihood of repayment.
A good credit score can significantly impact the interest rate offered to the borrower, with higher scores often resulting in lower interest rates.
For instance, a credit score of 760 or higher can qualify a borrower for a lower interest rate, while a score below 620 may result in a higher interest rate.
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Benefits of Credit Reports for Mortgage Brokers
Having a credit report is essential for mortgage brokers, as it provides a comprehensive view of a borrower's credit history, including payment history, credit utilization, and public records.
A good credit score can increase a borrower's chances of getting approved for a mortgage. According to the article, a credit score of 700 or higher is generally considered good.
A credit report can help mortgage brokers identify potential issues with a borrower's credit, such as late payments or collections. This allows the broker to advise the borrower on how to improve their credit before applying for a mortgage.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires credit reporting agencies to provide a free credit report to consumers once a year. This can be especially helpful for borrowers who want to review their credit report before applying for a mortgage.
Mortgage brokers can use credit reports to compare the creditworthiness of different borrowers, which can help them make more informed decisions about loan approvals.
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Types of Credit Reports
Mortgage brokers can access credit reports through Factual Data's modern online platform, or from various Loan Origination System (LOS) and Point of Sale (POS) options.
Factual Data offers a unique credit report product, the Tri-Merge Credit Report, which is simple to access and easy to read. Each report contains clear summaries detailing FICO scores, debt, late payments, and fraud alerts.
Factual Data's customer service representatives are available 5 days a week to assist lenders with any questions or concerns that may arise when ordering a credit report.
Tri-Merge Report: More Meaning
A Tri-Merge Report is a type of credit report that combines three credit reports into one. This can be especially helpful for lenders who want a comprehensive view of a borrower's credit history.
The report is simple to access, thanks to Factual Data's modern online platform or various LOS and POS options. You can even order credit reports through the Factual Data Enterprise Platform.
Each Tri-Merge Report is delivered in a clear and easy-to-read format. This makes it a breeze to understand the FICO scores, debt, late payments, and fraud alerts.
Factual Data representatives are available 5 days a week to assist lenders with any questions or concerns they may have when ordering a credit report.
Soft vs Hard Pulls
As a mortgage broker, you've probably come across the terms "soft pull" and "hard pull" when it comes to credit report pulls. But what's the difference between them?
A soft pull, also known as a soft inquiry, doesn't affect your credit score. This type of pull is often used for pre-qualifying customers for loans, and it's a great way to save time and money.
Soft pulls don't require a Social Security Number, Date of Birth, or a full credit report. But they do provide a full credit report and a FICO Score, making them sufficient for tenant screening purposes.
Here's a comparison of soft and hard pulls:
By understanding the difference between soft and hard pulls, you can choose the right type of pull for your mortgage business and provide a smoother experience for your customers.
Using Credit Reports for Mortgage Brokers
Using credit reports for mortgage brokers is crucial to make informed decisions when drafting loans for clients. Soft Pull Solutions can make the process smoother by providing comprehensive reports.
Credit reports from Soft Pull Solutions can lower your risk as a lender or broker by providing a detailed picture of a customer's credit history and financial stability. This ensures that you can provide lower-risk loans with peace of mind.
Our full-file reporting service offers a range of information, including bankruptcies, liens, and judgments, as well as employment and income data, consumer stability data, contact information, accounts types, and payment history.
Mortgage Reports: Factual Data
Factual Data offers Mortgage Credit Reports that provide a comprehensive view of an applicant's credit history. Accessing data from one, two, or all three credit repositories (TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax) digitally is a convenient option for mortgage brokers.
These reports are easy to read, making it simple to understand the credit history and determine the best loan options for the applicant.
Factual Data's merged credit reports offer a streamlined processing and underwriting experience, thanks to useful upgrade options.
Customize Your Merged Report
As a mortgage broker, you know how important it is to have accurate and up-to-date credit information on your borrowers. Factual Data has been serving the credit data needs of the mortgage lending community for decades, providing detailed and useful Merged Credit Reports for residential mortgage loans.
You can customize your Merged Report to fit your specific needs by creating an automated workflow on the Enterprise Platform. This allows you to design a unique workflow based on credit attributes, identity validation, and other business rules.
To ensure your Merged Report is as accurate as possible, you can update it with a Rescore. This helps you avoid waiting for the credit bureau to update your borrower's credit data, and our credit specialists will work with you to determine what documents are needed.
You can also order a Credit Supplement to get an out-of-cycle update about a tradeline on an applicant's credit report. This is especially useful when you need to know the most up-to-date information possible.
Here are some key options to consider when customizing your Merged Report:
- Create an automated workflow to stop or provide a warning when a credit profile doesn't meet your standard business rules.
- Update your report with a Rescore to get faster access to updated credit data.
- Order a Credit Supplement to get an out-of-cycle update about a tradeline on an applicant's credit report.
Risk Assessment and Growth
As a mortgage broker, you want to make informed decisions about lending to clients. Credit reports can help you assess the risk of lending to a particular individual, and Soft Pull Solutions provides a comprehensive reporting service that includes bankruptcies, liens, and judgments.
With their full-file reporting service, you can access a wide range of data, including employment and income history, consumer stability data, contact information, account types, and payment history. This information can help you determine the likelihood of a client repaying a loan.
Soft Pull Solutions' credit reports can also provide alternative credit data, giving you a more complete picture of a client's financial situation. This can be especially helpful for clients who may not have a traditional credit history.
By using credit reports from Soft Pull Solutions, you can lower your risk as a lender and provide loans with confidence. Their reports can help you identify potential red flags, such as fabricated data or address mismatching, which can save you from financial losses and reputational damage.
Recommended read: Fair Credit Reporting Act
Here are some benefits of using Soft Pull Solutions' credit reporting software:
- Save time and money on collections agencies
- Make informed decisions with peace of mind
- Lower your risk as a lender
- Provide loans with confidence
With Soft Pull Solutions, you can access a wide range of data, including public records from civil court filings, which can help you verify a client's identity and detect potential fraud. By using their credit reporting software, you can streamline your decision-making process and grow your business with confidence.
Efficiency and Expertise
United One's credit reporting services are designed with efficiency in mind. You can order reports online through their login center, and their mortgage report software is compatible with most major loan origination packages.
Their website allows credit reports to be ordered directly from the loan origination software, and the credit data can be imported into the appropriate fields. This streamlined process saves time and reduces errors.
United One offers a range of credit reports, including the Residential Mortgage Credit Report (RMCR), which is processed to the strict specifications of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This report is ideal for borrowers who need a more comprehensive credit assessment.
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Here are some of the credit reports offered by United One:
- Residential Mortgage Credit Report (RMCR)
- Non-Traditional Report
- Manual Simulator
Their team has extensive experience processing credit reports, including tradeline supplements, expedited disputes, and verifications of mortgage or rent. They can even provide credit reports within 72 hours with the right documentation.
Efficiency
Our online platform allows for efficient ordering of credit reporting services, accessible through our login center. This streamlined process saves time and effort for our clients.
United One's mortgage report software is an internet-based platform that's compatible with most major loan origination packages. This means our clients can easily integrate our credit reports into their existing systems.
The Residential Mortgage Credit Report (RMCR) is processed to the strict specifications of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ensuring accuracy and reliability. This report is often required when a borrower's file is incomplete.
Our Non-Traditional Report is ideal for borrowers without traditional lines of credit, as it allows us to gather information from creditors that don't report to the three national credit bureaus. This helps to provide a more comprehensive picture of a borrower's credit history.

With our Manual Simulator, clients can try different scenarios and see how they might impact an applicant's credit. This feature is a valuable tool for lenders who want to explore different options and make informed decisions.
United One has always had measures in place to prevent fraud and identity theft, and we've adapted our procedures to address the new Red Flag criteria. This ensures the integrity of confidential and sensitive information within our company.
Expertise
United One's team has extensive experience processing credit reports, which is evident in their expertise. They offer merged credit reports through Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
United One's expertise is not limited to credit reports. They also have experience with expedited dispute processes, which can resolve credit bureau updates within 72 hours with the right documentation.
To update a credit file, United One uses supplemental reports, which are used when one or more trade lines need to be updated. Verification of mortgage reports are also available for updated balance and credit history.
Here are some of the services United One offers, categorized by type:
- Appraisal Services
- Corporate Integrity Documentation
- Courthouse Integrity Documentation
- Experian Business Credit Reports
- Flood Zone Determinations
- Freddie Mac’s Home Value Explorer
- Marketing Lists
- Title Insurance & Settlement Services
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do mortgage brokers use?
Mortgage brokers use FICO Scores 2, 4, and 5, which are specific models from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, respectively. These scores help lenders assess creditworthiness for mortgage applications.
Can you become a mortgage broker with bad credit?
No, a poor credit score does not prevent you from becoming a mortgage broker, as there are no minimum credit score requirements for licensure. However, having bad credit may impact your ability to secure a mortgage for clients.
Sources
- https://www.factualdata.com/products/tri-merge-credit-reports
- https://www.softpullsolutions.com/blog/posts/2022/january/credit-reporting-services-for-mortgage-brokers-lenders/
- https://unitedone.com/services/mortgage-credit-services/
- https://www.softpullsolutions.com/industries/mortgage/
- https://www.isoftpull.com/industries/mortgage
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