Short answer
Sometimes, yes. Fannie Mae allows loans for borrowers with no credit score using nontraditional credit, such as a record of rent and other regular payments. The home has to be a primary residence you'll live in, and the loan has to be a purchase or a limited cash-out refinance.
What is nontraditional credit?
It's a payment history that doesn't show up on a credit report. Fannie Mae requires your housing payments, such as rent, to be one of the references when its Desktop Underwriter system asks for nontraditional credit. Other regular bills can count too.
What are the rules?
- Through Desktop Underwriter: a one- to four-unit home that every borrower will live in, as a purchase or limited cash-out refinance
- Underwritten by hand: a one-unit home you'll live in, as a purchase or limited cash-out refinance
- Homeownership education may be required
What about FHA?
FHA also allows a loan with no score. The lender documents three payment references, including at least one of rent, a phone bill or a utility bill, with proof of on-time payments, and an underwriter reviews the file by hand.
Should I open a credit card first?
It depends on your timeline. Building a score takes time, while a nontraditional credit file can work now for some buyers. Talk with Tom before you open new accounts; the credit guide covers what helps and what to avoid.
Sources
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.4-01, Eligibility Requirements for Loans with Nontraditional Credit (11/05/2025)
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.4-02, Number and Types of Nontraditional Credit References
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18 (August 2026)
Checked November 2, 2026. Rules and dates change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
General information only, not tax or legal advice. Program availability, eligibility and terms vary by lender and are subject to change and to underwriting approval. Not a commitment to lend.