Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will begin accepting predictive credit scores as part of their mortgage evaluation process, according to U.S. officials.

The two government-sponsored enterprises, which purchase mortgages from lenders and package them into securities, have traditionally relied on conventional credit scoring methods for assessing borrower risk.

The move to incorporate predictive credit scoring represents a shift in how the mortgage industry evaluates potential borrowers. These alternative scoring models typically use additional data points beyond traditional credit history.

Officials indicated the change is designed to provide lenders with more comprehensive tools for assessing creditworthiness. The implementation timeline and specific details of which predictive scoring models will be accepted were not immediately specified.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play crucial roles in the U.S. housing market by providing liquidity to mortgage lenders and helping to maintain the flow of credit to homebuyers.