Fannie Mae Enhances Its Industry-Leading Automated Underwriting Tool

Desktop Underwriter 10.0 Means Greater Simplicity and Certainty for Lenders

Pete Bakel

202-752-2034

WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTC) announced today the implementation of Desktop Underwriter^® (DU^®) Version 10.0, the newest version of the industry’s leading automated underwriting system. Desktop Underwriter 10.0 provides more simplicity and certainty to lenders through the use of trended credit data for enhanced credit risk assessment and new automated underwriting capabilities to serve borrowers with no traditional credit and for borrowers with multiple financed properties. Fannie Mae's use of trended credit data will be the first widespread use in the mortgage industry, and will benefit both consumers and lenders.

“Desktop Underwriter transformed the industry when it was introduced over twenty years ago. Today’s DU 10.0 enhancements highlight the continued investments and improvements we’re making in our technology to be better partners for our customers, and to provide access to mortgage credit for creditworthy borrowers,” said Marianne Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Single-Family Business Capabilities, Fannie Mae. “We continue to listen to our customers and make improvements to DU that take into account how our lenders tell us they want to work and to help them better serve today’s market.”

Desktop Underwriter 10.0 enhancements include:

Use of Trended Credit Data in Credit Risk Assessment

• Considers the monthly payment amounts that a consumer has made on revolving accounts, such as credit cards, over the past two years.
• Offers lenders more insight into how a borrower tends to pay off their revolving credit lines each month, providing a more comprehensive risk assessment. 
• Gives borrowers greater ability to control their credit evaluation, and benefits borrowers who regularly pay off, or pay more than the minimum required amount, of their revolving debt, increasing the likelihood that they will receive an “Approve” recommendation from DU.

 Automated Underwriting for Borrowers with No Traditional Credit

• Helps lenders more efficiently serve borrowers who do not have a traditional credit history.
• Helps lenders reduce costs by automating and streamlining a previously manual and time-consuming underwriting process.
• Requires verification of at least two nontraditional credit sources, one of which must be housing-related.

Automated Underwriting for Borrowers with Multiple Financed Properties

• Provides lenders with a simplified multiple financed properties policy.
• Simplifies the underwriting process for lenders and improves operational efficiency.
• Helps ensure fewer eligibility overlays, automates remaining eligibility requirements, and determines required reserves for all financed properties.

Fannie Mae’s Desktop Underwriter is the industry-leading automated underwriting system. For more than 20 years, DU has provided lenders a comprehensive risk assessment that determines whether a loan meets Fannie Mae eligibility requirements.

Fannie Mae helps make the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and affordable rental housing possible for millions of Americans. We partner with lenders to create housing opportunities for families across the country. We are driving positive changes in housing finance to make the home buying process easier, while reducing costs and risk. To learn more, visit fanniemae.com and follow us on twitter.com/fanniemae.