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Home buyer guideWhat credit score do I need to buy a house?
There is no single minimum credit score to buy a home. Under HUD rules FHA loans allow scores down to 500, with a larger down payment required below 580. VA and USDA do not set a fixed minimum. Conventional loans have traditionally required 620 or higher and are decided by automated underwriting that weighs the whole file. Lenders may set their own minimums above these, and a higher score lowers your rate and your mortgage insurance.
Reviewed by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764,
By loan program
| Program | What the program says about scores |
|---|---|
| FHA | 580 or higher qualifies for FHA's maximum financing. From 500 to 579 a larger down payment is required. Below 500 is not eligible. |
| VA | VA sets no minimum score. Lenders set their own, and VA looks closely at the overall credit history and at residual income. |
| USDA | USDA sets no fixed minimum. Files at 640 or above are simpler to approve; lower scores need more documentation and a closer review. |
| Conventional | Traditionally 620 or higher, and many lenders and mortgage insurers still require it. Pricing and mortgage insurance improve in steps as the score rises. |
These are the agency rules. A lender can be stricter, and that added requirement is called an overlay. Ask any lender, including us, what its minimum is for the program you want.
Which score a lender uses
The score in a banking or credit card app is usually not the one used for a mortgage. Mortgage lenders pull a report from the three credit bureaus, each with its own score, and generally use the middle of the three. When two people apply together, each has a middle score, and the lower one usually drives the pricing. It is common for mortgage scores to come in lower than the number a free app shows.
The score is not the whole decision
Underwriting also looks at what is behind the number: late payments in the last year or two, collections and judgments, how much of your credit limits you are using, and how long ago any bankruptcy or foreclosure was. A strong down payment, low debts and savings left after closing can offset a middling score. If you have little or no credit history, some programs allow a history built from rent, utilities and similar bills.
Raising your score before you apply
- Pay every account on time. Recent late payments hurt the most.
- Pay revolving balances down. Using a small share of each card's limit helps more than almost anything else in the short term.
- Do not open new accounts or finance a car or furniture while you are shopping for a home.
- Keep older accounts open; the length of your history counts.
- Check your reports and dispute real errors with the bureaus.
Once we have pulled your credit with your authorization, we can tell you which specific changes would matter for your file and roughly how long they take to show. Nobody can promise a particular score, and you never need to pay a company to fix accurate information.
Common questions
Does checking my own credit lower my score?
No. Checking your own report or score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score.
Does your one-minute form pull my credit?
No. The short form does not ask for a Social Security number and does not pull credit. We only pull credit after you authorize it, as part of a pre-approval.
Can I buy with a score under 620?
Possibly. FHA allows lower scores under HUD rules, and VA and USDA have no fixed minimum, but lenders set their own requirements and the rest of the file matters more as the score drops. Tell us where you stand and we will say plainly which programs are realistic.
Whose score counts when two of us apply?
Both borrowers are scored. Each has a middle score from the three bureaus, and the lower of the two usually determines pricing. Sometimes it is worth comparing the numbers with one borrower versus both, since income and debts change too.
How long after a bankruptcy or foreclosure can I buy?
Each program sets its own waiting period, and it depends on the type of event and when it was completed. Give us the dates and we will tell you which programs are open to you now and which open later.
This guide is general information, not a commitment to lend or a quote. Program rules change and lender requirements can be stricter than agency minimums. Your loan officer confirms what applies to your file.
See which programs fit your credit
Three quick steps, no Social Security number and no credit pull. A licensed officer calls you back.
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