Yes. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and VA all allow a borrower without a credit score to qualify on nontraditional or noncredit payment history, each with added limits. Fannie Mae manual underwriting requires a one-unit principal residence, a purchase or limited cash-out refinance and a maximum 36% DTI. Freddie Mac limits these loans to purchases or no cash-out refinances of a primary residence; when no borrower has a score, Loan Product Advisor also requires a fixed-rate, 1-unit loan at or below 95% LTV. FHA requires manual underwriting and ratios no higher than 31/43 (33/45 for Energy Efficient Homes); VA has no minimum credit score.
Fannie Mae (conventional)
- Manual underwriting with a borrower relying on nontraditional credit: one-unit principal residence, purchase or limited cash-out refinance, baseline loan limits only (no high-balance) and a maximum DTI of 36%. Fannie Mae B3-5.4-01
- In manual underwriting, no minimum reserves are required if at least one borrower documents a housing payment history as a reference; otherwise 12 months of reserves are required. Fannie Mae B3-5.4-01
- Manually underwritten loans need four nontraditional credit references for each borrower without a score (three for HomeReady); when DU requires a nontraditional history, at least two per borrower. Each reference must cover the most recent consecutive 12 months. Fannie Mae B3-5.4-02
- Through DU, when no borrower has a credit or installment account: purchase or limited cash-out refinance of a one- to four-unit principal residence occupied by all borrowers; references need not be verified when DU's cash flow assessment message allows it. Fannie Mae B3-5.4-01
- Nontraditional credit may not be used when a credit score can be obtained, when the score is below the minimum (an exception exists for certain HomeReady loans), or when traditional credit shows significant derogatory events such as bankruptcy or foreclosure. Fannie Mae B3-5.4-01
Freddie Mac (conventional)
- Loan Product Advisor, when no borrower has a credit score: purchase or "no cash-out" refinance of a 1-unit property occupied by all borrowers as their primary residence, fixed rate, LTV/TLTV/HTLTV no more than 95%, and not super conforming. Freddie Mac 5201.1(c)
- In that case, unless the LPA feedback shows positive borrower cash flow, each borrower needs at least two U.S. payment references made up of noncredit payment references or tradelines not on the credit report. Freddie Mac 5201.1(c)
- Manual underwriting without a usable credit score (a FICO score based on fewer than three tradelines may not be used) is limited to a purchase or "no cash-out" refinance of a 1- to 4-unit primary residence that is not super conforming. Freddie Mac 5202.1(c)
- Manual underwriting also requires at least one borrower whose income or assets are used to have three tradelines or four noncredit payment references (or four of both combined). Freddie Mac 5202.1(a)
- Each noncredit payment reference must have existed for at least 12 months; when every borrower relies only on noncredit references, at least one must complete homeownership education before the note date. Freddie Mac 5202.1(a)
FHA
- TOTAL requires a traditional credit report; if none is available or it is insufficient, TOTAL returns a Refer and the loan must be manually underwritten. FHA 4000.1 II.A.4.b.ii
- Without a credit score, the lender obtains a Non-Traditional Mortgage Credit Report or develops the history independently, using three credit references, at least one of them rental housing, telephone or utility; insurance, child care, tuition and similar payments can fill any shortfall. FHA 4000.1 II.A.5.a.ii(B)
- Borrowers with no credit score may not exceed 31/43 qualifying ratios (Energy Efficient Homes may stretch to 33/45), computed only with the income of occupying borrowers obligated on the mortgage. FHA 4000.1 II.A.5.d.viii
VA
- VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement. VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 4 Topic 7
- Without an established credit history, the decision rests on a verifiable payment record on alternative or nontraditional credit, and absence of credit history is not generally an adverse factor. VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 4 Topic 7
Sources
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide, September 2, 2026 version: B3-5.4-01, Eligibility Requirements for Loans with Nontraditional Credit (Manual Underwriting) (p. 496); B3-5.4-02, Number and Types of Nontraditional Credit References (table) (p. 499); B3-5.4-02, Eligible Types of Nontraditional Credit References (p. 499); B3-5.4-01, Eligibility Requirements for Loans with Nontraditional Credit (DU Loan Casefiles) (p. 497); B3-5.4-01, Eligibility Requirements for Loans with Nontraditional Credit (Unacceptable Uses) (p. 496, 497)
- Freddie Mac Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide, September 16, 2026 version: 5201.1(c)(ii), Mortgages where no Borrower has a Credit Score (p. 5201-3); 5202.1(c)(iii), Borrowers without usable Credit Scores (p. 5202-10); 5202.1(c)(i), Determining whether Credit Scores are usable (p. 5202-6); 5202.1(a)(i), Minimum number of payment references (p. 5202-1); 5202.1(a)(ii), Noncredit Payment References (p. 5202-2)
- FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1, August 12, 2026 version: II.A.4.b.ii, Credit Reports (TOTAL) (p. 205); II.A.5.a.ii(B), Non-traditional and Insufficient Credit (Manual) (p. 281); II.A.5.a.ii(B)(3), Sufficiency of Credit References (p. 282, 283); II.A.5.d.viii, Approvable Ratio Requirements (Manual) (p. 359)
- VA Lender's Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), August 12, 2026 version: Chapter 4, Topic 7: Credit History – Required Documentation and Analysis, b. How to Analyze Credit (PDF p. 104); Chapter 4, Topic 7: Credit History – Required Documentation and Analysis, Absence of Credit History (PDF p. 104)
Agency guides set the baseline; individual lenders can add stricter overlays. Sources are the guideline versions in Zeitro Strata as of October 29, 2026.