U.S. Mortgage Index

What can I do if my mortgage application is denied?

Short answer

Ask the lender for a written explanation of the denial and for the credit-score information it used, when a score was used in that decision. You can also review your credit report for errors and talk with a HUD-approved housing counselor. Another lender may reach a different decision.

Full explanation

If a lender denies the application, the CFPB says you should request an explanation. The lender must provide that explanation in writing if you ask. When the denial was based on a credit score, the CFPB says the lender must also give you the credit-score information used in that decision.

A denial from one lender is not a ban on getting a mortgage. The CFPB notes that another lender may approve a loan. You may also want to obtain a at no cost, if you have not already, and check it for mistakes. A HUD-approved housing counselor can walk through whether a mortgage payment would fit your budget.

These are official consumer steps after an adverse decision. They are not a prediction that a later application will be approved, and they are not a substitute for the written notice the lender must provide when you request it.

Sources reviewed

Last reviewed

September 9, 2026