Credit

What credit score do you need to buy a house?

Educational guide · Updated 2026

Your credit score is one of the most important factors in getting a mortgage — it affects whether you qualify at all, what interest rate you're offered, and which loan programs are available to you. But there's no single universal minimum. Different loan types have different requirements, and lenders often set their own standards above the official minimums.

Minimum credit scores by loan type

FHA loans: The official FHA minimum is 580 for 3.5% down, or 500 with 10% down. However, most lenders set a "lender overlay" of 620–640 minimum for FHA. If your score is between 580 and 619, you may need to shop specifically for lenders without overlays.

Conventional loans (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac): The minimum is 620. However, rates improve significantly at higher scores. The biggest rate jumps happen at 680, 700, 720, and 740. A borrower at 760 will typically get a noticeably better rate than one at 680.

VA loans: The VA itself has no minimum credit score, but most VA lenders require 580–620. Some lenders accept scores as low as 550 for VA loans.

USDA loans: Typically require 640 for automated approval through the USDA's system. Manual underwriting is possible with lower scores in some cases.

Jumbo loans: Generally require 700–720 minimum, often 740+. Jumbo lenders have the strictest credit requirements because these loans aren't backed by government agencies.

How your score affects your rate

Even a small difference in credit score can meaningfully change your mortgage rate. On a $350,000 conventional loan over 30 years, a borrower with a 760 score might receive a 6.875% rate while one with a 680 score gets 7.25%. That 0.375% difference translates to roughly $88/month — or over $31,000 over the life of the loan. Improving your score before applying can be one of the highest-ROI moves available to a prospective buyer.

What actually determines your score

FICO scores (used by most mortgage lenders) are built from five factors: payment history (35%) — whether you pay on time; amounts owed (30%) — your credit utilization rate; length of credit history (15%) — how long your accounts have been open; new credit (10%) — recent inquiries and new accounts; credit mix (10%) — variety of account types. Mortgage lenders typically pull all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and use the middle score.

What to do if your score needs work

The most impactful short-term moves: pay down revolving debt to reduce utilization below 30% (ideally below 10%); dispute any errors on your credit report; avoid new credit applications in the 6–12 months before applying; keep old accounts open even if you don't use them. Score increases from these actions can take 1–3 months to appear. Don't close old credit cards before applying — this reduces available credit and can hurt your utilization ratio and average account age simultaneously.

How quickly can I raise my credit score?

Paying down credit card balances can show results within 30–60 days since card balances are reported monthly. Disputing errors can take 30–45 days. Removing a late payment or collection is harder and takes longer. Building a thin credit file (few accounts) takes 6–12+ months of consistent positive history.

Does checking my own credit hurt my score?

No. Checking your own score is a "soft inquiry" and doesn't affect your score. Only hard inquiries — from lenders when you apply for credit — can affect your score, and their impact is usually small (typically 5 points or less).

Will multiple mortgage applications hurt my score?

Credit bureaus recognize rate shopping. Multiple mortgage hard inquiries within a 14–45 day window (depending on the scoring model) are typically counted as a single inquiry. Shop multiple lenders without worrying about repeated credit damage.

Frequently asked questions

This article is educational and general in nature. Specifics vary by lender, loan program, and location. Confirm details with a licensed professional.