Credit & Qualification
6 min read
What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House?
Mike Starr
Founder, MortgageWizardTools · M.S. Organizational Management
Last reviewed: August 2026
Your credit score is one of the most important factors in qualifying for a mortgage and determining your interest rate. Different loan types have different minimum scores, and even small score improvements can save you thousands over the life of the loan.
Minimum Scores by Loan Type
| Loan Type | Minimum Score | Best Rates At |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 620 | 740+ |
| FHA (3.5% down) | 580 | 700+ |
| FHA (10% down) | 500 | 700+ |
| VA | No official min (lenders ~580-620) | 700+ |
| USDA | 640 | 740+ |
| Jumbo | 680-700 | 760+ |
How Credit Score Affects Your Rate
On a $400,000, 30-year loan:
| Score | Rate | Monthly P&I | Total Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 760+ | 6.25% | $2,462 | $486,000 |
| 700 | 6.5% | $2,528 | $510,000 |
| 660 | 6.75% | $2,594 | $534,000 |
| 620 | 7.25% | $2,729 | $582,000 |
A 140-point difference can cost nearly $100,000 in interest over 30 years.
How to Improve Your Score Before Buying
- •Pay all bills on time — payment history is 35% of your score
- •Pay down credit card balances — credit utilization is 30% of your score
- •Do not open new credit — new inquiries can lower your score
- •Check your credit report — dispute errors at annualcreditreport.com
- •Keep old accounts open — credit age matters; do not close old cards
Which Score Lenders Use
Mortgage lenders pull your FICO scores from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and use the middle score. For joint applications, they use the lower of the two applicants' middle scores.
Key Takeaways
- •Minimum scores range from 500 (FHA) to 700+ (jumbo)
- •Scores above 740 get the best conventional rates
- •Even small score improvements can save thousands in interest
- •Check your report for errors and pay down card balances before applying
- •Mortgage lenders use the middle of your three FICO scores