What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House in 2026?
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Minimum credit scores by loan type
| Loan type | Program minimum | What lenders typically want |
|---|---|---|
| FHA (3.5% down) | 580 | 580–620 depending on the lender |
| FHA (10% down) | 500 | Few lenders go this low; shop around |
| Conventional (Fannie/Freddie) | 620 | 620, with much better pricing at 740+ |
| VA | None set by the VA | Commonly 580–620 |
| USDA | None set by USDA | 640 for streamlined automated approval |
| Jumbo (non-conforming) | Set by lender | Often 680–700+ |
Two things trip up first-time buyers here. First, the program minimum is a floor, not a promise — lenders add their own requirements (called overlays) on top. If one lender says no at 585, another may say yes. Second, the minimum score gets you approved, not approved cheaply: conventional pricing is banded by score, so a 745 borrower pays a lower rate than a 675 borrower on the identical house.
The score your lender sees is probably not the score you see
Free score apps almost always show a VantageScore 3.0/4.0 or a newer FICO model like FICO 8. Mortgage lenders have traditionally pulled a tri-merge report with older, mortgage-specific FICO versions — FICO 2 (Experian), FICO 4 (TransUnion), and FICO 5 (Equifax) — and qualified you on the middle of the three. The industry is slowly transitioning to newer models (FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 have been approved for conforming loans), but many lenders still use the classic versions.
Practical takeaway: treat your app score as an estimate that can run several points high or low, and don't cut it close. If a loan program needs 620, walking in at 624 is a coin flip; walking in at 650 is a plan.
Know your three scores before a lender pulls them
Because lenders use your middle score across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, a problem on just one report can set your qualifying score. You want to see all three before a lender does.
A 3-bureau monitoring service like SmartCredit shows your reports and scores from all three bureaus in one place, so you can spot the weak bureau and track your progress while you prepare to apply.
You can also pull your reports free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com — that gets you the report data (though not scores), and it's the right first step if you only need to check for errors.
If your score is below the cutoff
Score minimums feel fixed, but scores aren't. The levers, in rough order of speed:
- Dispute report errors. Wrong balances, accounts that aren't yours, and paid collections still showing unpaid are common — and bureaus must investigate disputes, generally within 30 days.
- Pay down credit card balances. Utilization has no memory; when the lower balances report, the score responds. See how to lower utilization before you apply.
- Stop applying for credit. New accounts and hard inquiries work against you for the year before a mortgage application.
- Let time work. Late payments hurt less as they age. A 12-month clean streak matters to underwriters. Our 12-month mortgage-ready plan sequences all of this.
And once you're pre-approved, don't undo the work — here's what not to do between pre-approval and closing.
FAQ
What is the minimum credit score to buy a house?
580 for FHA with 3.5% down (500–579 with 10% down), generally 620 for conventional. VA and USDA set no official floor, but most lenders want roughly 580–640.
Why is my mortgage credit score lower than the score in my app?
Apps show VantageScore or newer FICO models; mortgage lenders have traditionally pulled older FICO 2/4/5 versions and used your middle score across the three bureaus. The models weigh things differently, so the numbers rarely match.
Can I buy a house with a 580 credit score?
Yes, 580 meets the FHA minimum for 3.5% down — but some lenders want 600–620, so you may need to shop several lenders, and a higher score gets a better rate.
Does a higher credit score lower my mortgage rate?
Yes. Conventional pricing is banded by score, so moving from the 600s into the 700s — and especially past 740 — typically lowers your rate for the life of the loan.