Day 1 Certainty™

Updated 2026-05-18

Day 1 Certainty™ is a Fannie Mae program that provides lenders with relief from certain representations and warranties on validated loan components. This program is primarily achieved through the use of the DU Validation Service, a feature of Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter (DU) system.

Purpose and Benefits

The goal of Day 1 Certainty™ is to provide lenders with greater confidence and certainty in the accuracy of borrower data from the outset of the loan process. By leveraging automation, analytics, and third-party data validation, the program aims to:

• Reduce Risk: Mitigate the risk of repurchase demands for certain validated loan components.
• Streamline Documentation: Potentially reduce the need for traditional paper documentation for validated income, employment, and asset data.
• Improve Efficiency: Accelerate the underwriting process by providing early validation of critical borrower information.

How it Works

Day 1 Certainty™ is enabled when lenders use the DU Validation Service to verify a borrower's income, employment, and assets through authorized third-party data providers. When these components are successfully validated, Fannie Mae offers relief from representations and warranties related to that specific data.

Lender Responsibilities

While Day 1 Certainty™ offers significant benefits, lenders and MLOs still retain responsibility for:

• Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all other aspects of the loan application.
• Identifying all liabilities that could affect the borrower's ability to repay the loan.
• Exercising Prudent Underwriting Judgment in all lending decisions.