Pontiac, Mich. — UWM Waives FHA, VA Credit-Score Fees for 2026

UWM, the wholesale mortgage lender based in Pontiac, Michigan, will not charge borrowers extra fees tied to their credit score on FHA and VA loans through the end of 2026, according to a report from National Mortgage Professional. The change applies to loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, two government-backed programs widely used by first-time and lower-income buyers, as well as military borrowers and veterans.

What did UWM actually waive?

National Mortgage Professional describes the move as a waiver of "credit-score pricing hits" on FHA and VA loans. In mortgage lending, lenders commonly add fees or raise the interest rate when a borrower's credit score falls below certain levels — a practice known in the industry as a loan-level price adjustment. UWM's announcement, as reported, removes that adjustment specifically for FHA and VA loans for the rest of the year. Specific dollar amounts or score cutoffs for the waiver were not detailed in the available reporting.

Who does this affect, and where?

UWM does not lend directly to the public. It is a wholesale lender, meaning it works through independent mortgage brokers nationwide who submit loans on behalf of borrowers. So the waiver reaches borrowers wherever a UWM-approved broker is doing the paperwork — not a single city or state. Anyone shopping for an FHA or VA loan through a broker should ask directly whether that broker uses UWM and whether the waiver applies to their specific loan.

Why do credit scores usually add cost to FHA and VA loans?

Lenders use credit scores to judge risk. A lower score typically means a higher rate or an added fee, even on government-backed loans designed to help borrowers with thinner credit. By removing that add-on through year-end, UWM is telling brokers that FHA and VA borrowers with lower scores won't face that specific markup while the waiver is active — though other factors, like loan size, down payment, and overall rate markets, still affect the final price.

When does the waiver start and end?

The reporting places the end date at year-end 2026. The exact date the waiver took effect was not specified in the source material, and whether UWM plans to extend it into 2027 is not yet known.

How does this fit the broader credit-score conversation?

Credit scores remain a sore point for many borrowers. A recent HTT News survey out of San Francisco found that many consumers view credit scores negatively, seeing them as a gatekeeper that can add cost or shut people out of borrowing altogether. Pricing moves like UWM's touch that exact pressure point, since they directly change what a lower score costs a borrower on paper.

What should FHA and VA borrowers do now?

Anyone currently shopping for an FHA or VA loan should ask their broker in writing whether the lender on their file is UWM and whether this waiver applies to their loan estimate. Borrowers should compare the final loan estimate before and after any fee adjustment, and confirm the waiver's expiration date with their broker rather than assuming it carries into next year. The full original report from National Mortgage Professional has the lender's own framing of the policy and should be the first stop for borrowers and loan officers who want details beyond what is summarized here.