What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House

If you are wondering what credit score you need to buy a house, the short answer depends on the type of loan you want. Different loan programs have different minimums, and your score also affects your interest rate — sometimes by hundreds of dollars a month. This guide breaks down every number you need to know before you apply.

Credit Score Minimums by Loan Type

There is no single credit score requirement that applies to every mortgage. Each loan program sets its own floor, and individual lenders can add their own requirements on top of that.

FHA Loans

FHA loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration and are popular with first-time buyers because the credit requirements are more flexible than conventional loans.

• 580 or higher: You qualify for a 3.5% down payment. This is the most common path for buyers with average credit.
• 500 to 579: You can still get an FHA loan, but you will need a 10% down payment. Many lenders do not offer this option, so you may need to shop around.
• Below 500: You do not qualify for FHA financing.

Learn more about the full picture at our guide to FHA loan credit score minimums and FHA loan requirements for 2026.

Conventional Loans

Conventional loans are not backed by the government. Most lenders require a minimum score of 620, but that is the floor, not the target.

• 620: Minimum to qualify with most lenders
• 660 to 679: You get acceptable rates, but not the best
• 680 and above: You start unlocking significantly better rates
• 740 and above: You typically access the best available rates

If you are comparing FHA versus conventional, our article on FHA vs. conventional loans for first-time buyers explains which path usually makes more sense based on your score and down payment.

VA Loans

VA loans are available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not set an official credit score minimum, but most VA lenders want to see at least a 620. Some lenders will go lower, but your options narrow considerably below that threshold.

VA loans come with no down payment requirement and no private mortgage insurance, which makes them one of the best loan products available for those who qualify.

USDA Loans

USDA loans are for buyers purchasing in eligible rural and suburban areas. Like VA loans, the USDA does not publish an official minimum credit score, but most approved lenders require at least 640. Some lenders will manually underwrite loans with scores below 640, but the process is slower and approval is not guaranteed.

See our full breakdown of USDA loan requirements for 2026 to find out if a property qualifies.

Credit Score Ranges: What the Numbers Mean

Credit scores in the United States are most commonly measured using the FICO scale, which runs from 300 to 850. Here is what each range means for mortgage borrowers:

How Your Credit Score Affects Your Interest Rate

This is where most buyers underestimate how important their score really is. Even a 40-point difference can cost or save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.

Here is a real example using a $300,000 conventional loan with a 30-year term. These are approximate rates based on typical lender pricing tiers:

The difference between a 760 and a 620 score on this same loan is $277 per month and nearly $100,000 in total interest. That is not a small gap.

The Three Credit Bureaus and Which Score Lenders Use

There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. When you apply for a mortgage, most lenders pull your credit report from all three bureaus and generate a FICO score from each one.

Lenders use your middle score, not the highest and not the lowest. If your three scores are 610, 635, and 652, the lender uses 635.

If you are applying with a co-borrower (such as a spouse), the lender will pull both sets of scores and use the lower of the two middle scores. So if your middle score is 680 but your co-borrower’s middle score is 610, the lender qualifies the loan using 610.

This matters when deciding whether to apply jointly or alone. Sometimes one borrower has a much stronger credit profile, and leaving the other off the application — if their income is not needed — can result in a better rate.

How to Check Your Credit Score for Free

You have several free options for checking your credit score:

• AnnualCreditReport.com: The only federally authorized site for free credit reports. You can pull your full report from all three bureaus once per week for free. Note that this gives you your report, not always your score.
• Credit card issuers: Many major credit card companies (Discover, Capital One, Chase, and others) provide free FICO or VantageScore access through your account portal.
• Credit Karma: Shows your TransUnion and Equifax VantageScores for free. VantageScore is different from FICO, so there may be a small gap from what a mortgage lender sees.
• Experian’s free plan: Gives you your Experian FICO score free each month.

Before applying for a mortgage, it is worth paying for a tri-merge credit report — one that shows all three bureau scores in the FICO format lenders actually use. Many lenders will pull this for you for free as part of the preapproval process.

What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House: Quick Ways to Improve Your Score

If your score is not where it needs to be, these steps can produce results in as little as 30 to 90 days:

Pay Down Credit Card Balances

Credit utilization — how much of your available credit limit you are using — accounts for about 30% of your FICO score. Lenders like to see utilization below 30%. Getting it below 10% can give your score a meaningful boost. If you have a card with a $5,000 limit and carry a $2,500 balance, pay it down to under $500 before applying.

Do Not Close Old Accounts

Closing a credit card reduces your available credit limit and can increase your utilization ratio. It also shortens your average account age. Keep old accounts open, even if you rarely use them.

Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report

Errors on credit reports are more common than most people realize. Check all three reports carefully and dispute any accounts that are not yours, payments wrongly marked late, or balances that are incorrect. Disputes can take 30 to 45 days to resolve, so do this early.

Avoid Opening New Credit Accounts

Each new application triggers a hard inquiry on your report. Multiple hard inquiries in a short window can lower your score. Avoid applying for new credit cards, auto loans, or personal loans in the months before your mortgage application. Multiple mortgage inquiries within a 45-day window are typically treated as a single inquiry for scoring purposes.

Become an Authorized User

If a family member has a long-standing credit card with a low balance and clean payment history, ask them to add you as an authorized user. The account’s history can appear on your credit report and give your score a lift. You do not even need to use the card.

How to Qualify for a Mortgage With a Lower Credit Score

If you cannot wait to improve your credit score, there are still paths forward. FHA loans allow scores as low as 500 with a 10% down payment. Some lenders specialize in working with borrowers who have credit challenges. Down payment assistance programs may also be available to you regardless of your score.

See our guides on how to qualify for an FHA loan with bad credit, down payment assistance programs for 2026, and first-time home buyer grants by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum credit score to buy a house?

The minimum is 500 if you are using an FHA loan and can put 10% down. For a 3.5% down FHA loan, you need at least 580. Conventional loans require 620 at most lenders.

Can I buy a house with a 580 credit score?

Yes. A 580 score qualifies you for an FHA loan with a 3.5% down payment. You will likely pay a higher interest rate than buyers with scores in the 700s, but it is a viable path to homeownership.

Does checking my credit score hurt it?

No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your credit. Only hard inquiries — when a lender pulls your credit for an application — can temporarily lower your score.

How fast can I raise my credit score?

Paying down credit card balances and disputing errors can show results in 30 to 60 days. Building a longer credit history takes more time — generally six months to a year or more.

Do lenders use my highest or lowest credit score?

Neither. They pull scores from all three credit bureaus and use the middle score. On joint applications, they use the lower of the two middle scores.

What is a good credit score for a first-time home buyer?

A score of 670 or higher gives you access to most loan programs and competitive rates. A score of 740 or above puts you in the best rate tier for conventional loans.

If you are ready to take the next step, check out our first-time home buyer checklist, learn how much house you can afford, and review the steps to buying a house so you know exactly what comes next.