Your Rent Payments Could Help You Buy a Home Sooner Than You Think

January 28, 2026

By

Dionne Aiken

Your rent payment history can now help you qualify for a mortgage. If you've been paying on time for at least 12 months, you may be closer to homeownership than you realize, even with limited credit.

Money on a desk with keyboard and small house paper weight

For years, paying rent on time has felt like throwing money into a void. You prove your reliability month after month, yet none of it seems to count toward anything. But that's changing.

A quiet shift is happening in the mortgage world, and it could open doors for millions of renters who've been responsible but didn't have traditional credit to show for it.

Rent History Is Now Part of the Homebuying Equation

Fannie Mae, one of the country's largest mortgage backers, has launched an initiative called Make Rent Count. The premise is straightforward: if you can consistently pay rent, you can likely handle a mortgage payment too.

Through this program, lenders can now consider your rent payment history when evaluating your mortgage application, especially if you're a first-time buyer without an extensive credit file. This is a significant departure from how things used to work, where rent simply didn't factor into loan decisions the way mortgage history did.

What You Need to Qualify

The requirements are surprisingly attainable. You need at least 12 consecutive months of on-time rent payments of $300 or more per month. This option is especially valuable if you have limited credit history, no credit score, or have never had a mortgage before.

And get this: missed payments are not held against you. You just need to document a solid year of positive payment history. That's it.

Why This Is A Game Changer

Rent is often the largest monthly expense in a household budget. Paying it consistently demonstrates exactly what lenders want to see: reliability, financial stability, and the ability to manage a recurring housing cost.

The impact could be substantial. Millions of Americans have proven they're financially responsible by paying rent on time for years, but they haven't built traditional credit through loans or credit cards. Now that track record can work in their favor.

The Movement Is Growing

This isn't just a one-off program. According to a 2025 TransUnion report, the share of consumers with rent payments on their credit reports jumped from 11% in 2024 to 13% in 2025. More renters are self-reporting their payments, and more landlords are participating in reporting programs. Recent federal policy changes are also creating additional pathways for rent history to support mortgage qualification.

We're witnessing a structural shift that could reshape homeownership access over the next several years.

What You Can Do Today

If you're renting now but thinking about buying in the future, here's how to position yourself:

Keep a clear payment trail. Electronic payments create documentation that's easy to verify. Save your bank statements and payment confirmations.

Ask about rent reporting. Some property managers already participate in programs that report rent to credit bureaus. Fannie Mae's Positive Rent Payment program connects landlords with these services, so it's worth asking if yours is enrolled.

Consider self-reporting. More renters are now reporting their rent independently through third-party platforms as awareness grows.

Start conversations early. You don't need to be ready to buy tomorrow. Understanding your options now gives you time to plan strategically.

Renting Isn't Standing Still

There's an outdated narrative that renting is somehow wasted time or a sign you're not making progress. That's never been true. Renting can be a season of preparation, stabilization, and building financial habits. And now, it may also be building your path to homeownership.

Your rent history might be part of your mortgage story—not a detour from it.

Your Next Step

If you've been showing up month after month, paying on time, and doing things the right way, that consistency matters. The systems are finally catching up to recognize what you've been proving all along.

If homeownership is on your radar for the next few years, now is the time to ask: Would I qualify sooner than I thought? How could my rent payments work in my favor? What's realistic for my situation?

If you're renting in Central Florida and want to explore what your homebuying path could look like, I'm here to help. Your rent may already be proving you're ready.

Let's talk when you are.