“The best published interest rates for auto loans are 720+ and for mortgages 760+,” financial expert John Ulzheimer, formerly of FICO and Equifax, tells Select. “As such, I always tell people, shoot for 760 or better.
“Ultimately, any score in the 700s or above is considered good and will help you qualify you for lower interest rates,” Maguire-Feltch says. Here's a look at the average mortgage interest rates per FICO score as of Oct. 16, 2023.
With a FICO score of 740 or higher, you're likely to get the best jumbo mortgage rates. Using a mortgage calculator can make clear how even a slightly lower rate can make a big difference.
What Is a Good FICO® Score? The base FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850, and a good credit score is between 670 and 739 within that range.
FICO score ranges
580 to 669: fair. 670 to 739: good. 740 to 799: very good. 800 and above: exceptional.
A 750 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.
The average FICO® Score☉ in the United States was 715 in 2023, according to Experian data, increasing by one point from its 714 average in the third quarter (Q3) of 2022.
FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score. There are also industry-specific versions of credit scores that businesses use. For example, the FICO Bankcard Score 8 is the most widely used score when you apply for a new credit card or a credit-limit increase.
Conventional loan | Credit score: 620
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.
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).
The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of mortgage. For an FHA loan, a popular choice among first-time homebuyers for its lower down payment requirement, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.
Subprime (credit scores of 580-619) Near-prime (credit scores of 620-659) Prime (credit scores of 660-719) Super-prime (credit scores of 720 or above)
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
Now in 2023, the U.S. average FICO® Score as of April stands at 718. This is two points higher than the average FICO Score a year ago, and reflects the first time the metric has increased in more than two years as shown in Figure 1.
An 800 credit score is not as rare as most people think, considering that roughly 23% of adults have a credit score in the 800-850 range, according to data from FICO. A score in this range allows consumers to access the best credit card offers and loans with the most favorable terms.
Average Credit Score by Age
Still, average credit scores tend to increase with age. In 2021, people aged 18 to 24 averaged 679, while those 76 and up had an average credit score of 760.
Auto dealerships use the FICO credit bureau, which stands for Fair Isaac Corporation. They also use the FICO Auto Credit Score, which has a range of 250 to 900. This may mean that an auto dealer has a different credit score for you than the one you see on your personal credit report.
The credit score used in mortgage applications
While the FICO® 8 model is the most widely used scoring model for general lending decisions, banks use the following FICO scores when you apply for a mortgage: FICO® Score 2 (Experian) FICO® Score 5 (Equifax) FICO® Score 4 (TransUnion)
The credit score required and other eligibility factors for buying a car vary by lender and loan terms. 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.
In the FICO scoring model, used by the Fair Isaac Corporation, scores range from 300 to 850. This number represents the likelihood that a borrower will repay a loan. If your credit score lands between 300 and 579, it is considered poor and lenders may see you as a risk.
2023, the average VantageScore 4.0 in the US was 701. A 701 is in the “good” score range for VantageScores (670 to 739), and people with this score can likely qualify for many loans and credit cards.
You are one of the 48% of Americans who had a score of 750 or above as of April 2023, according to credit scoring company FICO. FICO Blog. Average U.S. FICO Score at 718.
A score of 850 can only be achieved with 10+ years of credit, excellent on-time payment history, low credit utilization, and no recent hard inquiries, which is a tall ask. At the very least, you can take these 12 steps to improve your score.