What is the minimum credit score needed to buy a house?

Asked by: Syble Carroll Jr.  |  Last update: December 12, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (56 votes)

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).

What is the lowest acceptable credit score to buy a house?

While credit score requirements vary based on loan type, lenders generally require a credit score of at least 620 to buy a house with a conventional mortgage.

What credit score is needed for a $250000 house?

To buy a $250,000 house, you'll likely need a credit score of 620 or higher to secure a conventional home loan.

Can you get a house with a 600 credit score?

With certain home loans, you can buy a house with a 600 credit score. Government-backed loan programs like FHA, USDA, and VA loans are often more flexible when it comes to credit requirements. These loan programs can be particularly helpful for first-time home buyers or those with lower credit scores.

What credit score is needed to buy a $400,000 house?

For a $400,000 home, you'll likely need a good to excellent credit score: 740+: Best rates and terms. 700-739: Slightly higher rates. 660-699: Higher rates, may require larger down payment.

What Credit Score is Needed to Buy a House? | This is the MINIMUM Credit Score Needed to Buy a Home!

36 related questions found

Is a 900 credit score possible?

What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.

What is a perfect credit score?

A perfect FICO credit score is 850, but experts tell CNBC Select you don't need to hit that target to qualify for the best credit cards, loans or interest rates.

Can I get an FHA loan with a 600 credit score?

You may be able to get an FHA loan with a down payment as low as 3.5% if your credit score is 580 or higher. If your score is 500 to 579, you'll need a down payment of at least 10%. Larger down payments allow you to borrow less, resulting in lower monthly payments that give you more breathing room in your budget.

Is 650 a bad credit score?

A 650 credit score is generally considered “fair.” A score in this range may limit you from certain financial opportunities. Payment history, monitoring your credit and lowering your credit utilization ratio can be helpful ways to improve this score over time.

Can I afford a 250k house on a 40k salary?

To afford a $250,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $62,000 to $80,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions.

Is credit karma accurate?

Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.

How to build credit quickly?

9 ways to build credit fast
  1. Dispute credit report errors. ...
  2. Pay down your credit card balances. ...
  3. Become an authorized user. ...
  4. Deal with delinquent accounts. ...
  5. Open a credit card account. ...
  6. Take out a credit builder loan. ...
  7. Request a credit limit increase. ...
  8. Keep a mix of different account types.

Does buying a house hurt your credit?

Getting a mortgage can cause a temporary dip in your credit score. But consistent, on-time mortgage payments will cause your credit score to rebound, and even improve over time. Late mortgage payments will harm your credit score, and they'll stay on your credit report for up to seven years.

How much income for a 400k house?

What income is required for a 400k mortgage? To afford a $400,000 house, borrowers need $55,600 in cash to put 10 percent down. With a 30-year mortgage, your monthly income should be at least $8200 and your monthly payments on existing debt should not exceed $981. (This is an estimated example.)

What will disqualify you from an FHA loan?

You may be denied for an FHA loan if you have declared bankruptcy but you have not had the bankruptcy discharged. You may be denied if you are delinquent on federal taxes or otherwise owe money to the federal government but without an approved payment plan.

What credit score is needed to buy a house with no money down?

What Credit Score Do You Need for a No Down Payment Home Loan? If you're hoping to purchase a home without a down payment, you'll have to prove a specific income and have a credit score that's at least in the mid-600 range.

What is the downside to an FHA loan?

FHA Loan: Cons

Here are some FHA home loan disadvantages: An extra cost – an upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 2.25% of the loan's value. The MIP must either be paid in cash when you get the loan or rolled into the life of the loan. Home price qualifying maximums are set by FHA.

How rare is an 800 credit score?

Even better, just over 1 in 5 people (21.2%) have an exceptional FICO credit score of 800 or above, all but guaranteeing access to the best products and interest rates.

Does anyone have a 900 credit score?

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.

What is the average credit score in America?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.

What is FICO score vs credit score?

A FICO score is one type of credit score calculated by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). FICO has multiple credit-scoring models that are used to calculate credit scores, including a variety of industry-specific models for mortgage lending, auto loans and more. FICO scores generally range from 300 to 850.

What is a good credit score to buy a car?

Key Takeaways. Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.

What's a bad credit score?

What is a bad credit score? Well, there are several credit score ranges. For instance, 780–850 may be considered "excellent" while 720–780 may be seen as "good." But when it comes to a range that may be seen as bad, a score between 300 (the lowest) and 600 fits into the “poor” category.