Yes, your 668 credit score can qualify you for a mortgage. And you have a couple of main options. With a credit score of 580 or higher, you can qualify for an FHA loan to buy a home with a down payment of just 3.5%.
Mortgages with a 668 Credit Score
Around 25% to 30% of first mortgages go to borrowers with credit score below 700, depending on the year, so you should be able to finance your home purchase.
A good credit score to buy a house is one that helps you secure the best mortgage rate and loan terms for the mortgage you're applying for. You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with scores as low as 500.
Of course, that assumes you're buying a house you can afford and applying for a mortgage that makes sense for you. Assuming that's all true, and you're within the realm of financial reason, a 660 should be enough to get you a loan. Anything lower than 660 and all bets are off.
Bottom line. Typically, you'll need a credit score of 620 if you want to take out a mortgage. But, there are alternative options for some lenders. Either way, you'll want to spend some time boosting your credit score before you apply for a mortgage to get the most favorable rate.
You can improve your credit score by opening accounts that report to the credit bureaus, maintaining low balances, paying your bills on time and limiting how often you apply for new accounts.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans need at least a 580 FICO Score with at least a 3.5% down payment (which amounts to $10,500 on a $300,000 home).
A 668 credit score is generally a fair score. While a lot of people have fair scores, you may still find it difficult to get approved for credit without high fees and interest rates with a score in this range.
Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian. Meanwhile, low-credit borrowers with scores of 600 or lower accounted for only 14% of auto loans.
To qualify for a conventional loan, you'll need a credit score of at least 620, though some lenders may choose to approve conventional mortgage applications only for borrowers with credit scores of 680 and up.
The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs).
Most lenders set a 620 minimum benchmark for you to buy a house, though that's not necessarily a “good” score to buy a house. There's a few reasons the minimum score isn't good for buying a house: The lower your credit score, the higher your payment. The higher your payment, the higher your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.
With a 668 credit score, you might be able to get a traditional credit card. While most credit card issuers don't publish minimum credit scoring standards, some will approve applicants in the fair credit range.
Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.
What Is a Bad Credit Score? On the FICO® Score☉ 8 scale of 300 to 850, one of the credit scores lenders most frequently use, a bad credit score is one below 670. More specifically, a score between 580 and 669 is considered fair, and one between 300 and 579 is poor.
If you make $70K a year, you can likely afford a home between $290,000 and $310,000*. Depending on your personal finances, that's a monthly house payment between $2,000 and $2,500. Keep in mind that figure will include your monthly mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance.
A person who makes $50,000 a year might be able to afford a house worth anywhere from $180,000 to nearly $300,000. That's because your annual salary isn't the only variable that determines your home buying budget. You also have to consider your credit score, current debts, mortgage rates, and many other factors.
An individual earning $60,000 a year may buy a home worth ranging from $180,000 to over $300,000. That's because your wage isn't the only factor that affects your house purchase budget. Your credit score, existing debts, mortgage rates, and a variety of other considerations must all be taken into account.
You can quickly increase your credit score by 40 points by reducing your utilization, disputing errors on your credit report, adding on-time rent or utility bills to your reports, and keeping up with your current payments. It is possible to improve your credit score in one to two months.