Reviewed by Jeff Shin, NMLS #1041652. Updated .
Minimum credit score by loan type
- FHA. Per HUD, scores as low as 500 can qualify. A score of 580 or higher is needed for the smallest down payment, and scores from 500 to 579 are limited to 90% financing. See FHA loans.
- VA. The VA does not set a minimum credit score. Lenders set their own. See VA loans.
- Conventional. Fannie Mae removed its fixed 620 minimum for loans run through its Desktop Underwriter system in November 2025 and now weighs the whole credit file. Many lenders keep their own minimum. See conventional loans.
- Jumbo and DSCR. No agency sets these floors. Each investor does, and minimums usually run higher than for agency loans. See jumbo and DSCR.
Which score a mortgage lender uses
A mortgage lender pulls your report from the three credit bureaus. When there are three scores, lenders typically use the middle one. With more than one borrower, the rules for combining scores depend on the program. Mortgage scores often differ from the score in a banking app because lenders use mortgage-specific scoring models. Here is why: why your mortgage credit score is different.
How your credit score changes your rate
On conventional loans, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac price in steps by credit score band and down payment, so crossing a band can change the rate or the points you pay. FHA and VA pricing is less sensitive to score, which is one reason FHA can come out ahead for lower scores. Compare on the same structure, starting from the weekly rate benchmark.
Home loans with a low credit score
FHA and VA are the usual routes for lower scores. When automated underwriting will not approve a file, some FHA and VA lenders will manually underwrite it with stricter limits. More here: FHA manual underwriting, VA with weaker credit, and buying with no credit score.
What helps before you apply
- Pay down credit card balances. How much of your limits you use moves scores quickly.
- Do not open new accounts or finance a car before closing.
- Keep old accounts open, and pay everything on time.
- Check your reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors.
- If you pay down balances during the process, ask your lender about a rapid rescore.
If you froze your credit, plan for it: credit freeze checks before pre-approval.
Questions borrowers ask
What is the minimum credit score to buy a house?
It depends on the loan. HUD allows FHA loans with scores as low as 500, the VA sets no minimum, and Fannie Mae no longer applies a fixed 620 minimum to conventional loans run through Desktop Underwriter. Lenders add their own minimums on top of these rules.
What credit score do I need for an FHA loan?
Per HUD, a score of 580 or higher qualifies for the smallest down payment. Scores from 500 to 579 are limited to 90% financing. Many lenders set a higher minimum than HUD.
Can I buy a house with a 550 credit score?
Possibly. HUD allows FHA loans with scores from 500 to 579 at 90% financing, but many lenders will not go that low. A lender that manually underwrites FHA files is the usual route.
Does my credit score change my mortgage rate?
Yes, especially on conventional loans, where Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac price in steps by credit score and down payment. FHA and VA pricing is less sensitive to score.
Does checking my credit lower my score?
Checking your own credit does not affect your score. A mortgage lender's hard inquiry can lower it slightly, and the CFPB notes that multiple mortgage credit checks within 45 days are recorded as a single inquiry.
Sources
Program rules on this page are summarized from the agencies that set them. Lenders can add stricter requirements. Checked October 7, 2026.
Related
Not sure which of these applies to you?
That is usually the actual question. Send the situation rather than the product name — purchase or refinance, primary or investment, price range, and timeline — and you get the structures that fit, with what each one costs.