Real Estate Today

Why Homebuyers Are Seeing Higher Mortgage Credit Check Fees

Why Homebuyers Are Seeing Higher Mortgage Credit Check Fees

Homebuyers across the United States are facing higher mortgage credit check fees in 2026, as costs for obtaining credit reports from the major credit bureaus continue to rise. This increase, which adds to already high closing costs, is becoming a significant point of contention in the housing market. Credit Check Fees Surge in 2026 Mortgage credit check fees, particularly for tri-merge reports that combine data from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, have surged by 40% to 50% in 2026. This marks the fourth consecutive year of rising fees for these credit checks, which are a key part of the mortgage application process. Lenders use these tri-merge reports to assess a borrower’s creditworthiness, but the rising cost to pull these reports is increasingly being passed on to homebuyers. Reports indicate that the cost of a tri-merge credit report has now reached upwards of $200 in some cases, a sharp increase from previous