Over the past year, we’ve been keeping you updated on mortgage trigger leads, the notifications sent by the credit reporting agencies to other lenders when you have your credit report pulled for a mortgage, which often result in a flood of unwanted calls, texts, and emails. Thanks to years of advocacy, there’s now a significant change: the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 2808) has been signed into law. Most provisions take effect March 4, 2026 (180 days after enactment).
This is a significant win for homeowners and future buyers, putting new protections in place to limit the misuse of your personal information. And importantly, this legislation passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, showing that protecting consumers from intrusive marketing practices is an issue that rises above party lines.
How We Got Here
The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act was championed by Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Jack Reed (D-RI), along with Representatives John Rose (R-TN) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY). Together, they led the effort to build consensus, make adjustments during the legislative process, and ultimately deliver a law that balances consumer privacy with fair competition in the mortgage industry.
Their bipartisan leadership reflects years of advocacy by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and thousands of Mortgage Action Alliance members who spoke up to protect borrowers. The result is a law that prioritizes your right to privacy while maintaining space for legitimate credit offers.
What the New Law Does
The new law, which was strongly supported by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and the Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) and passed with bipartisan backing in both the Senate and the House, takes effect on March 4, 2026. Once active, it will curb abusive practices while still allowing legitimate use of mortgage trigger leads in very limited circumstances.
Here’s what the new law requires:
â—Ź Stronger consumer protections: Access to trigger leads will only be permissible under the Fair Credit Reporting Act in specific situations.
â—Ź Firm offers only: A credit reporting agency (CRA) can only provide a trigger lead if the lender purchasing the lead will make a firm offer of credit.
â—Ź Limited access: A CRA cannot provide trigger leads off your credit inquiry unless the third party receiving the lead will both make a firm offer of credit AND is:
â—‹ A lender able to certify it has your authorization;
â—‹ The lender who originated your current mortgage;
â—‹ The servicer of your existing mortgage; or
â—‹ An insured bank or a credit union where you already hold an account.
As MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit put it: “This new law is a major victory for mortgage borrowers that will protect them from the barrage of unwanted calls, texts, and emails they too often received immediately after applying for a mortgage.”
How This Affects You
If you’re applying for a mortgage before March 2026, trigger leads may still be in use. Until the law takes effect, you can protect yourself by:
- Opting out of all prescreened offers of credit: Visit OptOutPrescreen.com to reduce the chance of your information being sold.
- Registering your phone number: Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov.
After March 4, 2026, the new law will reduce the flood of unsolicited outreach that borrowers often experienced when credit reporting agencies sold the consumer’s information to third parties.
Our Commitment to You
At Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation, we believe your privacy should always come first. As this new law goes into effect, we’ll continue to keep you informed and guide you through every step of your homebuying journey. If you’d like to discuss your options or explore next steps, reach out to your DRMC Loan Officer today.
