For instance, most major credit scoring models follow a 300 to 850 range (the lower the score, the worse for wear, but more on this in a minute), and, while you're looking at a score measured this way, you can generally assume anything below 600 is a bad credit score.
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.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 579 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.
580 to 669: Fair
Individuals in this category are often considered “subprime” borrowers. Lenders may consider them higher-risk, and they may have trouble qualifying for new credit.
The bottom line. A bad credit score is a FICO credit score below 670 and a VantageScore lower than 661. If your credit isn't where you would like it to be, remember that a bad credit score doesn't have to weigh you down.
You Have Late or Missing Payments
Your payment history is the most important factor in your FICO® Score☉ , the credit scoring model used by 90% of top lenders. It accounts for 35% of your score, and even one late or missed payment can have a negative impact. So, it's key to make sure you make all your payments on time.
In the U.S., the average credit score is 716, per Experian's latest data from the second quarter of 2023. And when you break down the average credit score by age, the typical American is hovering near or above that score.
Most lenders offer FHA loans starting at a 580 credit score. If your score is 580 or higher, you can put only 3.5% down. Those with lower credit scores (500–579) may still qualify for an FHA loan.
Credit repair can cost around $100 a month and take several months — with no guarantee that your credit score will be higher at the end. Note that credit repair can't do anything that you can't do on your own, and it can't remove negative marks from your credit reports if they're accurate, timely and verifiable.
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.
As you can see in the scoring models below, achieving a 900 score is not possible today. The VantageScore credit score ranges are: Excellent: 781 to 850. Good: 661 to 780.
If you're wondering whether you can buy a house with your “good” credit score of 700, you likely can. But your total loan costs with a 700 score as opposed to, say, 760 are significantly different. Let's use a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan for $300,000 as an example.
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.
This is because your total available credit is lowered when you close a line of credit, which could result in a higher credit utilization ratio. Additionally, if the account you closed was your oldest line of credit, it could negatively impact the length of your credit history and cause a drop in your scores.
A short credit history gives less to base a judgment on about how you manage your credit, and can cause your credit score to be lower. A combination of these and other issues can add up to high credit risk and poor credit scores even when all of your payments have been on time.
The highest credit score you can have on the most widely used scoring systems is an 850. The widely-used FICO 8 scoring model and the VantageScore 3.0 both use a 300-850 scale. Credit scoring company FICO says about 1% of its scores reach 850.
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.
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.