What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House in 2026?

Your credit score is one of the first numbers a lender looks at — but it's not a pass/fail number. Different loan programs have different minimum requirements, and the score that disqualifies you for one program might make you a strong candidate for another. Understanding exactly where you stand, and which programs you qualify for at your current score, is the first step to buying a home — not the last.

Minimum Credit Score Requirements by Loan Type

FHA Loans: The Most Flexible Option for Buyers With Lower Scores

FHA loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration and allow the lowest credit scores of any mainstream mortgage program. With a score of 580 or higher, you can buy with as little as 3.5% down. With a score between 500 and 579, you can still qualify — but you'll need 10% down instead of 3.5%. Scores below 500 are generally not accepted on FHA loans through standard channels.

FHA loans do require mortgage insurance — an upfront premium of 1.75% rolled into the loan, plus an annual premium of 0.55%–1.05% paid monthly. For buyers with scores in the 580–619 range, FHA is often the most accessible path to homeownership. First-time buyers in Maryland and Virginia often combine FHA with down payment assistance, which can cover the 3.5% down entirely.

VA Loans: No Minimum Score, But Lenders Set Their Own Floor

The VA itself has no minimum credit score requirement — which is unusual among major loan programs. In practice, individual lenders set their own floors, and most require scores of 500–580 for VA loans. Some lenders will go lower with compensating factors like significant assets, a large down payment, or a history of on-time rental payments. VA loans carry no monthly mortgage insurance regardless of credit score, which makes them significantly more affordable than FHA for eligible veterans with lower scores.

Conventional Loans: Better Score Means Better Rate

Conventional loans require a minimum 620 credit score, but the score you qualify with and the score you want are different things. Conventional pricing is heavily tier-based — a 620 score and a 740 score will get very different interest rates on the same loan.

The pricing adjustment table used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (called an LLPA, or loan-level pricing adjustment) can add 1–3% in additional fees for scores in the 620–679 range versus a score above 740. On a $400,000 loan, the difference between a 640 score and a 740 score could mean $4,000–$8,000 more in upfront costs or a meaningfully higher rate over the life of the loan. For buyers with conventional-range scores on the lower end, FHA is often a better deal even if you technically qualify for conventional.

Non-QM Loans: Bank Statements, 1099s, and ITIN Mortgages

Non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) loans don't follow the same underwriting guidelines as FHA, VA, or conventional loans. They're designed for borrowers whose income is difficult to document through traditional methods — self-employed professionals, freelancers, investors using rental cash flow, and non-citizen borrowers with an ITIN rather than a Social Security number.

Most Non-QM programs require higher credit scores than FHA, not lower — typically 620–680+ depending on the program. Bank statement loans (which calculate income from bank deposits, not tax returns) generally start at 640. DSCR investor loans start around 620. ITIN mortgages typically require 580–620 depending on the program and documentation type. The tradeoff for expanded income guidelines is a higher rate — Non-QM loans carry a premium over conventional pricing, though that premium has narrowed significantly in recent years.

How Much Does Your Credit Score Actually Affect Your Rate?

Credit score affects not just whether you get approved, but how much you pay. This table shows approximate rate differences based on credit score tiers for a 30-year conventional loan on a $400,000 home purchase in 2026. These are illustrative ranges — actual rates depend on market conditions and lender pricing.

These numbers illustrate why improving your score before applying — even by 20–30 points — can be worth more than any other action you take during the homebuying process. A three-month delay to improve your credit score from 640 to 680 could save you over $80,000 over the life of a loan.

What If Your Score Is Below the Minimums?

A score below the minimums for your target program doesn't mean you need to wait years to buy. There are several targeted strategies that can move a score meaningfully in 30–90 days:

• Pay down revolving credit card balances below 30% of your limit — this alone often produces a 20–50 point improvement in a single billing cycle
• Dispute inaccurate items on your credit report — errors are surprisingly common and can be removed within 30 days
• Become an authorized user on a trusted family member's long-standing, low-utilization credit card — their history adds to your profile
• Avoid opening new accounts or closing old ones — both actions can temporarily reduce your score
• Ask your loan officer about rapid rescoring — a service that lets lenders submit documentation of a correction to the credit bureaus and receive an updated score within 3–5 business days

What Happens During Pre-Approval If Your Score Is Low

When you start a pre-approval with us and your score doesn't yet reach the threshold for your target program, we don't send you away and tell you to come back in six months. We pull your full credit report, identify the specific factors dragging your score down, and walk you through the fastest path to the program you want. In many cases we can tell you within the same conversation which actions will move you across the threshold and how long it will realistically take. Homebuying is a process, and sometimes it starts three months before you want to close.

United Mortgage Plus Works With the Full Credit Spectrum

We've closed loans for borrowers with scores in the 500s. We've also closed for borrowers with 780+ scores looking for the absolute best pricing on a jumbo loan. The approach is different, the programs are different, and the timelines are sometimes different — but the goal is the same: find the loan that works for where you are today, and make sure it's the right long-term decision for your financial life. We work with 100+ lenders including those who specialize in Non-QM, alternative income documentation, and ITIN borrowers. If a path exists, we'll find it.

Bottom Line

A 580 gets you into FHA. A 620 opens conventional. A 500 can still work on VA if you have the service history. Non-QM programs exist for ITIN borrowers and self-employed buyers at 580–640. Your credit score is one variable in a larger equation — not a verdict. The best thing you can do is get an actual credit review from a lender before you decide whether you're ready to buy.