What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House?

There are really two credit-score questions: what do you need to qualify, and what do you need to get a good rate? They have different answers.

Minimums to qualify, by loan type

• FHA: 580 for 3.5% down (500–579 with 10% down).
• VA: no set minimum from the VA, but lenders often want ~580–620.
• USDA: typically 640 for streamlined processing.
• Conventional: usually 620 and up.

Qualifying vs. getting a great rate

Clearing the minimum gets you approved. But pricing improves in tiers as your score rises — often meaningfully at 660, 700, 740, and 760+. The same loan can cost noticeably less for a borrower with a 760 than a 640, even though both qualify.

If your score is on the edge

Small, fast moves can bump you into a better tier: lowering credit-card balances, disputing report errors, and not opening new accounts before applying. A focused plan can move many borrowers a tier or two in 60–90 days.

Don't let one lender's 'no' decide it

Lender overlays vary — one may decline a score another approves, and pricing differs too. Comparing several brokers is how borrowers with average credit still find a competitive offer. And if you're not there yet, a credit-repair plan can get you ready.