TransUnion Launches First Look Functionality for Mortgage to Help Lenders Cut Origination Costs

VantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing remains 99 cents through 2028, with no charge when lenders pull it alongside a FICO Score.

Rhea-AI Summary

TransUnion (TRU) launched First Look Functionality for Mortgage, allowing lenders to review credit insights before purchasing scores during loan origination.

Lenders can buy a credit report alone or with a chosen score, then request additional scores when needed. Adding scores does not require paying for a second report when all eligibility and matching conditions are met. The functionality supports soft- and hard-pull workflows, is available through mortgage resellers, and works with GSE and FHA automated underwriting without changes to existing selling guidelines or policies. The launch follows TransUnion's extension of 99-cent VantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing through 2028, with no charge when pulled alongside a FICO Score.

Positive

• Minor pointVantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing extended at 99 cents through 2028; no charge when pulled alongside a FICO Score.

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

VantageScore mortgage pricing: $0.99

VantageScore mortgage pricing

$0.99

VantageScore 4.0 pricing through 2028; no charge alongside a FICO Score

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: Sep 29

1 event

1. Sep 29

   Mortgage pricing

   24h Move

   -2.8%

   Extended $0.99 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing through 2028, with no added cost alongside FICO.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

soft-pull, hard-pull, gses, fha

4 terms

soft-pull technical

"Available for both soft- and hard-pull workflows"

A soft-pull (soft inquiry) is a credit check that a lender, company, or consumer-facing service runs that does not affect the consumer’s credit score. It typically returns the same basic credit-report information as a hard inquiry but is used for purposes like pre-qualification, account reviews, background screening, or identity verification; soft pulls are visible to the consumer on their credit report but are not shown to other potential lenders as score-affecting inquiries and therefore do not lower credit scores.

hard-pull technical

"Available for both soft- and hard-pull workflows"

A hard-pull is a credit inquiry a lender or creditor makes when you apply for new credit and explicitly authorize them to check your full credit report; it gives the requester detailed credit information used to decide whether to extend a loan, card, mortgage or similar credit. Unlike a soft inquiry, a hard-pull can lower your credit score modestly and is visible to other lenders; it typically remains on your credit report for up to two years and can affect scoring models for about a year. Consumer reporting laws require the applicant’s permission for hard-pulls and lenders usually perform them only during active credit applications or account-opening processes.

gses regulatory

"compatible with government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)"

GSEs (government‑sponsored enterprises) are privately chartered financial firms created by statute to support public policy goals—most commonly by buying, guaranteeing, or securitizing loans to increase liquidity in a specific market (for example, mortgages). They operate under a congressional charter and usually issue debt and mortgage-backed securities; they are distinct from federal agencies because they are privately owned and their obligations are not automatically backed by the full faith and credit of the government, though market participants often perceive some level of government support.

fha regulatory

"and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) automated underwriting workflows"

The FHA is the U.S. Federal Housing Administration, a government agency that insures home loans so lenders take less risk; think of it as a safety net that encourages banks to lend to buyers who might not qualify for conventional mortgages. For investors, FHA policy and activity matter because they shape demand for housing, affect mortgage availability and default risk, and influence the performance of banks, mortgage lenders, homebuilders, and mortgage-backed securities.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Data-first workflow lets lenders review credit insights before purchasing scores

CHICAGO, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) today launched TransUnion First Look Functionality for Mortgage, enabling mortgage lenders to review credit insights before purchasing scores. The innovation follows TransUnion's recent extension of 99-cent VantageScore® 4.0 mortgage pricing through 2028, with no charge when lenders pull it alongside a FICO® Score. Combined, these advancements help lenders improve origination efficiency, reduce costs and align credit spending more closely with loan progression.

Traditional mortgage workflows often require lenders to purchase credit scores early, even when the underlying credit data often provides the necessary information to determine whether a loan should advance, follow a streamlined path, or be removed from consideration. Whether using a soft-pull solution such as TruVision® Early Access Soft Check or a traditional hard-pull workflow, lenders frequently need multiple scores throughout the origination process. Purchasing those scores before they are needed can lead to unnecessary fallout costs for lenders.

“Mortgage lenders face sustained pressure to control costs and operate more efficiently without compromising underwriting decisions. TransUnion First Look Functionality for Mortgage allows lenders to start with credit report insights and add additional score-based decisioning only when needed,” said Satyan Merchant, senior vice president and mortgage business leader at TransUnion. “First Look Functionality provides insight earlier in the lending journey, directs resources toward the most promising opportunities and creates a more efficient path from application to closing.” 

With TransUnion First Look Functionality for Mortgage, lenders can evaluate early-stage risk by purchasing either a credit report alone or a credit report with the score of their choice, then request additional score(s) only when needed. Lenders do not incur the cost of a second credit report when adding additional score(s) when all eligibility and matching conditions are met. Additionally, TransUnion First Look Functionality for Mortgage is compatible with government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) automated underwriting workflows, enabling seamless implementation without requiring changes to existing selling guidelines or policies.

Available for both soft- and hard-pull workflows and through mortgage resellers, lenders can capture efficiencies without redesigning existing processes. For instance, through Early Access Soft Check, lenders can assess borrower eligibility earlier by using the TransUnion credit report along with VantageScore 4.0, in addition to indicators on the credit report such as bankruptcy risk, streamlined-program eligibility and other underwriting considerations, before another score is needed.

Trended credit data and optional solutions like TruVision Alternative Credit Attributes and TruVision Income and Employment Verification can also provide additional insight in both soft and hard-pull workflows while helping reduce unnecessary credit expenses and maintain decision quality.
  
Learn more about TransUnion First Look Functionality for Mortgage. 

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru™ picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments, we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.

http://www.transunion.com/business

Contact	Dave Blumberg
	TransUnion
E-mail	david.blumberg@transunion.com
Telephone	312-972-6646

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What does TransUnion's First Look Functionality for Mortgage let lenders do?

Lenders can review credit insights before purchasing scores, buying a credit report alone or with their chosen score and requesting additional scores when needed. They do not pay for a second credit report when adding scores if all eligibility and matching conditions are met.

How much does TransUnion's VantageScore 4.0 mortgage score cost through 2028?

TransUnion extended 99-cent VantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing through 2028. There is no charge when lenders pull it alongside a FICO Score.