Analysts cast FICO’s $10 mortgage pricing as defensive volume play

Analysts view Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO)’s decision to hold its wholesale pricing for mortgage lenders and brokers under its Preferred Program at $10 for 2027 as a defensive move to capture volume amid rising competition from VantageScore. Following the announcement, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte said on social media that the agency is “taking more action this week to ensure competition is real and not fake, or manipulated.” “Abusive monopolies will not be allowed to take advantage of consumers anywhere in the mortgage market,” Pulte wrote on X on Monday afternoon. “Market participants who use modern credit scores help lower risk and increase safety and soundness.” A spokesperson for FICO did not immediately respond to HousingWire’s request for comment. The flat $10 wholesale price will apply to lenders and brokers that purchase tri‑merge credit reports via resellers that commit to pulling FICO scores on 100% of mortgage applications, including both soft and hard pulls. The pricing covers a bundle of Classic FICO and FICO Score 10T. Analysts note this is only one of FICO’s mortgage score price offerings for 2027, with others undisclosed at this time. The mo...