If your credit score is a 663 or higher, and you meet other requirements, you should not have any problem getting a mortgage. Credit scores in the 620-680 range are generally considered fair credit. There are many mortgage lenders that offer loan programs to borrowers with credit scores in the 500s.
663 credit score mortgage loan options
According to myFICO, if you have a credit score between 620 and 669, you can expect to have an average interest rate of between 4.293 percent and 3.317 percent on a $300,000 mortgage. (Numbers are current as of April 2021.)
A FICO® Score of 663 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 663 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.
A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.
You'll need an “acceptable” credit history as well. Some mortgage lenders are happy with a credit score of 580, but many want 620-660 or higher.
The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus. This means a couple of things: The scores we provide are actual credit scores pulled from two of the major consumer credit bureaus, not just estimates of your credit rating.
Minimum FHA loan credit score requirement
The minimum credit score to qualify for an FHA loan is 580 with a down payment of 3.5 percent. If you can bump up your down payment to at least 10 percent, you can have a credit score as low as 500 and still qualify.
No down payment is required for VA, USDA and doctor loan programs detailed above. What credit score do I need to buy a house with no money down? No-down-payment lenders usually set 620 as the lowest credit score to buy a house.
At least 6-12 months before: You'll want to start saving up for a down payment (if you haven't already) so you can show a lender you have the means to purchase a home.
Here's how to improve a 663 credit score:
Pay Off Collections Accounts: Once you bring a collection account's balance down to zero, it stops affecting your VantageScore 3.0 credit score. Reduce Utilization: It's best to use less than 30% of the available credit on your credit card accounts each month.
Pay on time.
One of the best things you can do to improve your credit score is to pay your debts on time and in full whenever possible. Payment history makes up a significant chunk of your credit score, so it's important to avoid late payments.
As a general rule, lenders want your mortgage payment to be less than 28% of your current gross income. They'll also look at your assets and debts, your credit score and your employment history. From all of this, they'll determine how much they're willing to lend to you.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 633 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.
A FICO® Score of 670 falls within a span of scores, from 670 to 739, that are categorized as Good. The average U.S. FICO® Score, 711, falls within the Good range.
You'll need a minimum credit score of 660 for low-income borrowers or a minimum 680 for those who don't meet low-income requirements. You must have a 43% or lower DTI ratio. Your income cannot exceed California's income limits by county. Check your county's limits to be sure your income doesn't exceed them.
As a rule of thumb, home loan EMI should not exceed 35-40% of your total income. In our survey, almost 28% of homebuyers indicated willingness to part with more than 50% of their household income towards EMIs, which can spell disaster. “Get a clear and real understanding of your finances.
To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, the type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.
If your credit score is lower than average, then shopping for a home is a good time to fix your credit to buy a house. Lenders view lower scores as a sign that you're less likely to repay the loan, though that risk can be lowered by improving your credit.
The process still takes anywhere from 1-6 months, depending on the number of disputes you need to make. The average consumer usually completes the credit repair process in about 3-6 months, but it can be less if your reports only have a few errors to correct.
The commonly used FICO® Scores for mortgage lending are: FICO® Score 2, or Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model v2. FICO® Score 5, or Equifax Beacon 5. FICO® Score 4, or TransUnion FICO® Risk Score 04.
There are three popular reasons you have been denied for an FHA loan–bad credit, high debt-to-income ratio, and overall insufficient money to cover the down payment and closing costs.
An FHA loan only requires a 3.5% down payment, 43% debt-to-income ratio, and 580 credit score. Actually, you can apply for an FHA loan with a credit score as low as 500. But if your credit score is between 500 and 579, then you'll need at least 10% for a down payment.
For a Wells Fargo mortgage, you'll need a minimum credit score of 600 (with a down payment of 3% or more) to qualify for a conventional loan under the yourFirst Mortgage program.
Our Verdict: Credit Karma has better credit monitoring and more features, but Experian actually gives you your “real” credit score. Plus it offers the wonderful Experian Boost tool. Since they're both free, it's worth it to get both of them.