• Composite FICO scores among FHA mortgage endorsements have begun to ease from peak levels in the early part of 2011.
  • The average purchase FICO is down to 697 from 703 while the average refinance FICO is down to 695 from 707. FICO scores for both loan types remain nearer to their peaks than their typical average.
  • Purchase endorsements had an average FICO score of 633 in 2007 and 658 in 2008. The 2009 average rose to 682 for purchase endorsements and averaged 698 in 2010. In the first months of 2011, scores continued to increase on average reaching 703 for endorsed purchase mortgages.
  • Average FICO scores for refinance mortgages rose even more dramatically from just under 620 on average in 2007 to 707 before easing.