Desktop Underwriter and Desktop Originator
Manage risk and grow your business with confidence
The mortgage industry’s leading underwriting system
Desktop Underwriter® (DU®) is Fannie Mae’s automated mortgage loan underwriting system. Building on 30 years of digital underwriting innovation, DU is a powerful tool to help lenders assess credit risk and establish a loan’s eligibility for sale and delivery to Fannie Mae. And it’s also a way to better serve the 9 out of 10 homebuyers who prefer a digital mortgage process1.
Designed for efficiency, reliability, and ease of use, DU provides clear, actionable guidance for both purchase and refinance loans for a wide range of borrowers. With advanced risk analysis and digital innovations, lenders have access to insights that can instill confidence to reach more potential borrowers than ever before.
Sponsored mortgage brokers have access to DU through Desktop Originator® (DO®).
What’s new in DU?
Discover the latest enhancements and innovations — and find out what’s next.
Coming soon
Simplified messages in the DU Underwriting Findings report, as well as other updates to align with the Selling Guide, will make it easier to navigate the underwriting process.
September 27, 2025
Just released
We’re making it easier to support homebuyers in Connecticut. DU will align with the state’s new planning regions for area median income (AMI) determination.
July 19, 2025
See what DU can do
DU offers powerful capabilities to help make the most of every lending opportunity.
Lower verification costs
Reduce report costs and increase productivity by validating assets, income, and employment with a single data source.2
Pre-qualify with a soft credit pull
Get more options for pre-qualification with DU’s early assessment using a soft credit pull.
Reduce risk with digital validation
Receive rep and warrant relief by confirming borrower data digitally.
Qualify more borrowers
Consider on-time rent payments to help more renters become homeowners.
Expand eligibility using cashflow insights
Approve more eligible borrowers based on cashflow assessments.
Assess complex incomes
Quickly and easily evaluate income from self-employment, business ownership, or rental properties with Income Calculator.
Save on appraisals
Reduce cycle time and borrowers’ costs by obtaining value acceptance offers through DU.
Simplify condo loan processing
Reduce manual work with up-to-date condo project messaging provided directly in DU.
Loans with at least one digital validation component are 33% less likely to produce defects.
Up to 2.5x more borrowers have benefited from expanded on-time rent payment reporting.
50% of lenders2 using an asset report to verify income and employment see some level of cost savings.
Based on internal reporting data.
Unlock DU's full potential
Grow your business with faster and more reliable validation using an asset report in DU. Data from a borrower’s bank statements streamlines the verification process.
Asset validation
Positive rent payment history consideration
Cashflow assessment
Employment validation
Wage income validation (base, bonus, overtime, commission)
Child support income validation
Alimony income validation
Social Security income validation
Pension income validation
Long-term or VA disability income validation
- Enhanced risk and eligibility assessment
-
Updated debt composition evaluation
-
First-time homebuyer evaluation
-
Expanded rent data and cashflow assessment
Enhanced risk and eligibility assessment
Improved risk analysis based on the latest data
We've improved DU's ability to analyze the risk of mortgage delinquency by looking at a wide range of factors in borrowers' loan applications and credit reports, as well as recent loan performance data and the latest market conditions.
Updated debt composition evaluation
Updated evaluations for revolving and student loan debts
We've updated how we assess revolving and student loan debt in mortgage applications. We no longer consider variable income or the specific mix of revolving debts in monthly expenses. We also changed how we evaluate loans for people with student debt, because our research shows that these loans often perform better than those without student debt, given similar debt levels and risk factors.
First-time homebuyer evaluation
Adjusted risk factors for first-time homebuyers
DU now considers first-time homebuyer status as a positive factor when assessing risk. Our research shows that loans for first-time homebuyers perform better, when controlling for other credit factors.
Expanded rent data and cashflow assessment
New opportunities to help more borrowers
Surveys show that 43% of renters plan on buying a home as their next move.3 Now, if a borrower's credit report includes their on-time rent payments, DU can now use that in its assessment, as well as rent payments shown in bank statements.
We're also making it easier for people with and without credit scores to qualify. DU can now assess cash flow for both, providing a comprehensive view into money management habits and steady income streams.
Improved risk analysis based on the latest data
We've improved DU's ability to analyze the risk of mortgage delinquency by looking at a wide range of factors in borrowers' loan applications and credit reports, as well as recent loan performance data and the latest market conditions.
Updated evaluations for revolving and student loan debts
We've updated how we assess revolving and student loan debt in mortgage applications. We no longer consider variable income or the specific mix of revolving debts in monthly expenses. We also changed how we evaluate loans for people with student debt, because our research shows that these loans often perform better than those without student debt, given similar debt levels and risk factors.
Adjusted risk factors for first-time homebuyers
DU now considers first-time homebuyer status as a positive factor when assessing risk. Our research shows that loans for first-time homebuyers perform better, when controlling for other credit factors.
New opportunities to help more borrowers
Surveys show that 43% of renters plan on buying a home as their next move.3 Now, if a borrower's credit report includes their on-time rent payments, DU can now use that in its assessment, as well as rent payments shown in bank statements.
We're also making it easier for people with and without credit scores to qualify. DU can now assess cash flow for both, providing a comprehensive view into money management habits and steady income streams.
Based on internal reporting data.
View DU V. 12.0 release notes
30 years of innovation
Since launching three decades ago, DU has transformed the mortgage underwriting process. Thanks to DU’s
ongoing innovations, lenders today are operating more efficiently and more confidently.
DU & DO Learning Center
For information on using Desktop Underwriter and Desktop Originator, visit the learning center.
DU Validation Service Resource Center
For information on using the DU validation service, visit our specialized resource center.
Set up DU Wholesale account
Establish and manage a DU Wholesale account for TPOs.
Search sponsoring lenders
Find contact information for sponsoring lenders.
Find job aids
Instructional guides for common Desktop Originator tasks.
Register as a broker
Use this form to sign up as a user for Desktop Originator.
Technology Integration Resources
Detailed information to help stay current and compliant.
Technology Manager
Manage user access to DU and other Fannie Mae applications.
Technology Support Center
Contact us for help with Fannie Mae technology applications.
Consolidated Technology Guide
Reference for Fannie Mae’s technology licensing contract and other terms.
References
1“9 out of 10 homebuyers”: Fannie Mae survey of recent homebuyers on digital verification technology, August 2024
2In a survey of DU validation service - single source pilot lenders, 50% of respondents reported some level of cost savings. Customer results may vary.
3“43% of renters”: Fannie Mae Mortgage Understanding Study: 2023 refresh
“74% of consumers want to buy a home on their next move”: Fannie Mae Mortgage Understanding Study: 2023 refresh
