What Is a Credit Report Fee?

Introduction

The credit report fee covers the cost of obtaining your credit report from one or more credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for mortgage underwriting. Lenders use the report to assess your creditworthiness and determine loan eligibility. See Credit Score for Mortgage and What Lenders Look at When Approving a Mortgage.

Typical Costs

Credit report fees typically range from about $25 to $50. Some lenders absorb this cost or bundle it into other charges. The fee appears on your Loan Estimate under Origination Charges or Services You Cannot Shop For.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a credit report fee?

The credit report fee covers the cost of obtaining your credit report from one or more credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for mortgage underwriting. Lenders use the report to assess creditworthiness.

How much does a credit report cost?

Typical credit report fees range from about $25 to $50. Some lenders absorb this cost or include it in other fees. It appears on your Loan Estimate under "Origination Charges" or "Services You Cannot Shop For."

Can I avoid paying a credit report fee?

The fee is typically non-negotiable because the lender must pull your credit. Some lenders may waive or reduce it as part of a promotion. Compare loan estimates from multiple lenders.

Does pulling my credit affect my score?

Multiple mortgage-related credit pulls within a short window (typically 14–45 days) are usually counted as one inquiry for scoring purposes, so shopping around generally does not hurt your score.