Having a good credit score boosts your chances of qualifying for a mortgage because it shows the lender you’re likely to repay your loan on time. That’s why many lenders require minimum credit scores for loans.
But what is a good credit score to buy a house?
The minimum credit score you need to qualify for a mortgage isn’t one-size-fits-all and depends on the mortgage you want.
To buy a house with a conventional loan, for example, you’ll need at least a 620 credit score. Even if your credit score hovers somewhere in the 500 – 600 range, you can still secure a home loan.
Key Takeaways:
- The minimum credit score needed to buy a home varies by loan program; it can be as low as 500 (with a 10% down payment) for FHA loans.
- Mortgage lenders use your credit score to evaluate your risk as a borrower and how well you manage debt.
- Borrowers with a credit score of 740 or higher typically have access to the most competitive interest rates.
What Credit Score Is Needed To Buy A House?
The minimum credit score required for most mortgages is 620, but a credit score of 740 or higher will often get you the best mortgage rate offers. However, the minimum credit score you need to qualify for a mortgage depends on the home loan you’re applying for.
Here are the most common mortgage programs and their credit score minimums.
| Type Of Loan | Minimum FICO® Score |
|---|---|
| Conventional Loan | 620 (Federal Housing Financing Agency requirement) |
| Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loan | 580 (FHA requirement with 3.5% down) 500 (FHA requirement with 10% down) |
| Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan | There is no minimum requirement. Most lenders require a credit score of 580 or higher. |
| U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Loan | There is no minimum requirement. Most lenders require a credit score of 640 or higher. |
| Jumbo Loan | Most lenders require a credit score of 680 or higher. |
Conventional Loans
Conventional mortgages are home loans that follow the standards set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They typically offer competitive interest rates and flexible mortgage repayment terms that range from 8 – 30 years. Conventional loan financing is typically best for borrowers with good or excellent credit because it requires a higher credit score than government-backed loans.
To secure a conventional loan to buy a house, most lenders typically require a minimum credit score of 620, while others may require a higher minimum credit score.
FHA Loans
The Federal Housing Administration insures FHA home loans. Lenders are more willing to approve borrowers who would have struggled to meet conventional mortgage requirements because the loans are insured by the FHA to protect the lender’s investment if the borrower defaults.
With down payments as low as 3.5%, FHA loans help prospective home buyers with lower credit scores and smaller amounts saved to make a down payment.
To qualify for an FHA loan that requires a 3.5% down payment, you’ll need a minimum credit score of 580. If you can make at least a 10% down payment, you may qualify for an FHA loan with a 500 credit score.
Keep in mind that FHA loans are issued by private lenders and they may have their own minimum credit score requirements.
VA Loans
VA home loans, insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs, don’t require a down payment, and they’re available to borrowers with lower credit scores.
To qualify, though, you must be an eligible member or veteran of the U.S. armed forces, a member or veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves or National Guard, or a surviving spouse.
The VA has no minimum credit score requirement, but many lenders require borrowers to have a minimum credit score of at least 580.
USDA Loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers USDA home loans to promote rural homeownership. To qualify for this type of mortgage, you must purchase a single-family residence in an eligible rural location. And your household income can’t be more than 115% of the area’s median household income.
The USDA doesn’t set a minimum credit score requirement for home buyers, but many USDA lenders require a credit score of 640 or higher.
Jumbo Loans
Jumbo loans are similar to conventional mortgages, except the loan amount for a jumbo loan exceeds the conforming limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
To be approved for a jumbo loan, borrowers typically need a low debt-to-income ratio, a high credit score and substantial cash reserves.
Since jumbo mortgages allow a high loan amount, lenders can be stricter about their minimum credit score requirements. For example, you may need a 740 credit score if you choose a fixed or adjustable-rate 15-year jumbo loan. But you may qualify for a 30-year fixed-rate jumbo loan with a 680 credit score.
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Current Mortgage Rates By Credit Score
The current average APR (inclusive of the interest rate and borrowing fees) on a $350,000 30-year fixed conventional home loan for someone with a credit score of 740 was 6.918% as of Aug. 27, 2025.
According to Freddie Mac data, mortgage rates are currently at their lowest level in 10 months, which could offer a window of opportunity for home buyers who’ve been on the sidelines.
Using the same loan assumptions, here’s a look at sample mortgage rates based on various credit scores, according to the latest data from Curinos.
| FICO® Score | 30-Year | 15-Year | 5/6 ARM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 620 | 7.52% | 6.05% | 6.51% |
| 640 | 7.36% | 6.06% | 6.53% |
| 660 | 7.23% | 6.04% | 6.54% |
| 680 | 7.17% | 6.06% | 6.49% |
| 700 | 7.07% | 6.05% | 6.52% |
| 720 | 7.02% | 6.04% | 6.63% |
| 740 | 6.91% | 6.05% | 6.59% |
| 760 | 6.83% | 6.05% | 6.56% |
| 780 | 6.73% | 6.04% | 6.45% |
| 800 | 6.73% | 6.04% | 6.45% |
| 820 | 6.73% | 6.04% | 6.45% |
| 840 | 6.73% | 6.04% | 6.45% |
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Factors That Go Into A Credit Score
A 20-point change in credit score in either direction can result in a 0.25% – 0.50% difference in interest rate. Lenders use these loan-level price adjustments (LLPAs) based on credit score and loan-to-value ratio to calculate your interest rate and other loan terms, according to Fannie Mae.
That’s why it’s important to know your credit score and understand what affects it before you begin the mortgage process. Once you know how it all works together, you can build your credit score or maintain it to give yourself the best chance of qualifying for a mortgage.
While exact scoring models may vary by lender, some variation of the standard FICO® score is often used as a base. FICO® pulls variables from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax®, Experian™ and TransUnion®) from your credit reports and compiles your score. FICO® scores range from 300 – 850 and are based on:
- Payment history
- Amount owed
- Length of credit history
- Types of credit
- New credit
The higher your score, the easier it should be to qualify for a lower interest rate on a great mortgage.
Credit Score Tiers Explained
Here are FICO® credit score tiers and what they mean for your mortgage approval odds:
300 to 579: Poor Credit
You’re unlikely to qualify for most traditional mortgages. In this range, lenders consider you a high default risk.
580 to 669: Fair Credit
This range is within the minimum to get approved for most mortgages; however, your interest rate will be higher than if you had a higher score. Your lender can recommend ways to boost your score to secure a better rate.
670 to 739: Good Credit
With good credit, you’ll probably qualify for most mortgages with moderately low interest rates and fees. Again, your lender can run numbers to see the difference in rate for a good credit score versus a very good credit score.
740 to 799: Very Good Credit
You’ll qualify for most mortgage products and receive a competitive interest rate if the rest of your financial profile is in good shape.
800 to 850: Exceptional Credit
You’ll receive the best offers mortgage lenders have to offer, giving you the ultimate purchasing power and best loan terms.
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Additional Factors Lenders Consider For A Mortgage
Your credit score is a key factor in determining whether you qualify for a mortgage. But it’s not the only factor lenders consider. Your mortgage lender will also evaluate your:
- Income: Lenders verify your income before approving you for a mortgage. They want to make sure you make enough money each month to afford all your payments.
- Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): Depending on the type of mortgage you use, lenders want your total monthly debts, including your new estimated mortgage payment, to amount to no more than 50% of your gross monthly income, preferably less. If your debt-to-income ratio is higher, you may struggle to qualify for a mortgage.
- Down payment: The bigger your down payment, the more likely it is that you’ll qualify for a mortgage with a lower interest rate. That’s because lenders believe borrowers are more likely to make regular payments after investing a significant amount of their money up front.
- Savings: Lenders want to make sure you have reserve funds to continue to make your mortgage payments if your income unexpectedly dries up. While not all lenders require it, some lenders may require borrowers to have a reserve fund comprising 1 – 12 months of mortgage payments, depending on the terms of the loan and the type of mortgage.
- Employment history: Lender requirements may vary, but they usually want to see that you’ve worked at the same job for at least 2 years.
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How To Improve Your Credit Score Before Buying A House
Fortunately, credit scores aren’t static; you can improve them. Be aware, though, that there are no quick fixes. It takes time to build up a low credit score.
Take these steps to help boost your credit score before filling out a mortgage application:
- Check your credit report for errors: Order one copy of each of your three credit reports (maintained by Experian®, Equifax™ and TransUnion®) at least once per year from AnnualCreditReport.com. Once you get the reports, check them for errors. If you find any, contact the credit agency to have the errors corrected.
- Become an authorized user: A family member may help you boost your credit score by adding you as an authorized user to a credit card account. Don’t run up debt on this card, though. If you do, you can hurt both your own and your family member’s credit score.
- Pay your bills on time: Paying your bills on time each month is the surest way to steadily improve your credit score. A late payment can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years.
- Pay down your credit card debt: Paying down credit card debt is another way to boost your credit score, especially if you’re near your credit limit. Lowering these balances will also improve your DTI. But don’t close a credit card account once you pay the balance off, as that will reduce your available credit and erase an account with a long history (and both can lower your score).
- Don’t take out a new loan or open a new credit line: If you plan to buy a home soon, opening a new line of credit or taking on a large loan creates a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can ding your score. It’s better to wait until after you close on a home purchase.
What’s A Good Credit Score To Buy A House: FAQ
If you have additional questions about the best credit score to buy a house, we have answers.
The Bottom Line: Higher Scores Mean Better Rates
The credit score required to buy a home may differ based on the type of loan you’re applying for. But no matter what type of financing you’re thinking about, the higher your credit score is, the easier it should be to get a better interest rate on your mortgage.
Deborah Kearns
Deborah Kearns is an award-winning independent journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering real estate, mortgages and personal finance. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger, U.S. News & World Report, Quartz, CNN, Forbes, Fortune, Newsweek, The Associated Press and dozens of other outlets. She previously led content and communications at a Top 15 national mortgage company and held writing and editing roles at Bankrate, NerdWallet, LendingTree and RE/MAX. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Florida and a master's degree in public relations from Ball State University.
