While credit score requirements vary based on loan type, mortgage lenders generally require a 620 credit score to buy a house with a conventional mortgage.
You don't need flawless credit to get a mortgage. But because credit scores estimate the risk that you won't repay the loan, lenders will reward a higher score with more choices and lower interest rates. For most loan types, the credit score needed to buy a house is at least 620.
A 650 credit score, like any other FICO® Score in the fair range, will likely exclude you from getting a mortgage lender's best-available interest rate. Some lenders may consider a 650 FICO® Score grounds for denying a mortgage application altogether, but a 650 score meets many lenders' minimum lending requirements.
What's A Good Credit Score To Buy A House? Generally speaking, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 in order to secure a loan to buy a house. That's the minimum credit score requirement most lenders have for a conventional loan.
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.
For example, while a lender may permit you to borrow up to 95% of the property value if you have a 750 credit score, they may restrict you to no more than 80% of the property value if your credit score is 650.
Lenders will usually offer an FHA loan to someone with a credit score as low as 500, as long as they can put down 10%. With a credit score above 580, you could qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5%.
While you don't need a perfect 850 credit score to get the best mortgage rates, there are general credit score requirements you will need to meet in order to take out a mortgage. Prospective home buyers should aim to have credit scores of 760 or greater to qualify for the best interest rates on mortgages.
70% of U.S. consumers' FICO® Scores are higher than 660. What's more, your score of 660 is very close to the Good credit score range of 670-739. With some work, you may be able to reach (and even exceed) that score range, which could mean access to a greater range of credit and loans, at better interest rates.
A 750 credit score generally falls into the “excellent” range, which shows lenders that you're a very dependable borrower. People with credit scores within this range tend to qualify for loans and secure the best mortgage rates. A 750 credit score could help you: Qualify for a mortgage.
The type of loan you choose also affects loan sizes. With a credit score of 640, for example, you may find an FHA loan can offer the best interest rate. In most areas, the FHA would limit your single-family home loan to $420,680. Meanwhile, a conventional loan could go up to $647,200 in most areas.
A 740 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.
Note that FHA loans can allow credit scores as low as 500. But if your score is below 580, you'd need a 10% down payment to qualify. Borrowers with credit scores above 580 need only 3.5% down. The downside to lower credit is that you'll pay a higher interest rate.
As mentioned above, a 680 credit score is high enough to qualify for most major home loan programs.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 670 to 739, which are considered Good. The average U.S. FICO® Score, 711, falls within the Good range.
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.
If your credit score is a 659 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.
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.
For the borrower with a 620 credit score, this might equate to an interest rate of say 4.5% on a 30-year fixed mortgage, while the borrower with a 740 score receives a much lower rate of 3.75%.
700 is a good score — and with a little effort, you should be able to find a mortgage lender who will give you a competitive rate and get you into the home you want.
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.
The amount of money that you can borrow with a 700 credit score will depend on the lender and the type of loan that you are applying for. However, you can expect to be approved for a loan of up to $100,000 with a good interest rate.
A FICO® Score of 800 is well above the average credit score of 711. It's nearly as good as credit scores can get, but you still may be able to improve it a bit. More importantly, your score is on the low end of the Exceptional range and fairly close to the Very Good credit score range (740-799).
An 800-plus credit score shows lenders you are an exceptional borrower. You may qualify for better mortgage and auto loan terms with a high credit score. You may also qualify for credit cards with better rewards and perks, such as access to airport lounges and free hotel breakfasts.