What is the minimum score for a mortgage?

Asked by: Eugenia Kulas  |  Last update: December 21, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (72 votes)

Credit score and mortgages 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's the lowest credit score to get a mortgage?

What Credit Score Do I Need to Buy a House?
  • Conventional Loans Minimum Credit Score: 620. ...
  • Jumbo Loans Minimum Credit Score: 700. ...
  • FHA Loans Minimum Credit Score: 500. ...
  • VA Loans Minimum Credit Score: 620. ...
  • USDA Loans Minimum Credit Score: 580.

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.

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.

Is a 600 credit score good enough to buy a house?

Can I buy a house with a 600 credit score? A 600 credit score is high enough to get a home loan. In fact, there are several mortgage programs designed specifically to help people with lower credit scores. However, you'll need to meet other lending requirements too.

Can You Buy a House with Low Credit? FHA Loan Explained in 2024 (Easy Approval!)

33 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 credit score is needed to buy a $300k house?

You can buy a $300,000 house with only $9,000 down when using a conventional mortgage, which is the lowest down payment permitted, unless you qualify for a zero-down-payment VA or USDA loan. Different lenders have different rules, but typically they require a 620 credit score for conventional loan approval.

Can I afford a house on 70k a year?

The Bottom Line. On a $70,000 salary using a 50% DTI, you could potentially afford a house worth between $200,000 to $250,000, depending on your specific financial situation.

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 28/36 rule?

According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment. Homeowners Insurance. Private mortgage insurance.

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.

What is the minimum credit score for a FHA loan?

The Takeaway. If you're looking to buy a home, FHA loans with low down payments may be an attractive option to consider. To qualify for an FHA-insured loan, you need a minimum credit score of 580 for a loan with a 3.5% down payment, and a minimum score of 500 with 10% down.

What is the easiest bank to get a mortgage from?

Easiest mortgages to qualify for
  • Best for low down payment: Rocket Mortgage.
  • Best for lender credits and grants: Citibank.
  • Best for low credit score requirements: Cardinal Financial.
  • Best for no credit: Guild Mortgage.
  • Best for VA loans: Navy Federal Credit Union.
  • Best for FHA loans: Chase Bank.

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.)

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.

What is a good FICO score to buy a house?

A 620 credit score is typically what you'll need to get a mortgage for a home purchase. Although you can buy a house with a credit score as low as 500, you'll pay a higher rate and make a larger down payment.

How to get an FHA loan with no down payment?

You cannot get an FHA loan with zero down. However, the money for your down payment doesn't have to come from your account. You may be able to fund your down payment with FHA gift funds and down payment assistance.

How much can you borrow with a 620 credit score?

With FICO, fair or good credit scores fall within the ranges of 580 to 739, and with VantageScore, fair or good ranges between 601 to 780. Many personal loan lenders offer amounts starting around $3,000 to $5,000, but with Upgrade, you can apply for as little as $1,000 (and as much as $50,000).

What salary do you need for a 200k mortgage?

To comfortably afford a $200,000 house, you'll likely need an annual income between $50,000 to $65,000, depending on your specific financial situation and the terms of your mortgage. Remember, just because you can qualify for a loan doesn't mean you should stretch your budget to the maximum.

How much is $70,000 a year hourly?

If you make $70,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $33.65.

What will be approved for a mortgage if I make $65000 a year?

With a $65,000 annual salary, you could potentially afford a house priced between $195,000 to $260,000, depending on your financial situation, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this is a broad range, and your specific circumstances will determine where you fall within it.

How much is a monthly payment on a $300k house?

Here's what a $300,000 monthly mortgage payment would be at today's rates, accounting for the conventional 20% down payment ($60,000) and excluding homeowners insurance and taxes: 15-year mortgage at 5.86%: $2,007.15 per month. 30-year mortgage at 6.44%: $1,507.51 per month.

What is an FHA loan for a house?

An FHA loan is a type of mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While the government insures these loans, they're underwritten and funded by FHA mortgage lenders. Many big banks and other types of lenders offer them.