What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House?
There is no single minimum. FHA loans go down to 500 with 10% down (580 for 3.5% down). VA and USDA set no minimum score of their own. Fannie Mae dropped its 620 floor for loans run through its automated underwriting system in November 2025. In practice your lender’s own minimum and the rate you are offered matter more than the program floor.
What credit rating is needed to buy a house, by loan type
| Loan | Program minimum score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FHA | 580 for 3.5% down 500-579 with 10% down | Below 500 is not eligible for FHA-insured financing. |
| VA | None set by VA | VA requires no minimum score, but lenders may set their own. |
| USDA guaranteed | No set requirement | You must show you are willing and able to repay; lenders can use alternative credit for applicants without a traditional credit file. |
| Conventional (Fannie Mae) | No minimum for loans underwritten in Desktop Underwriter | Applies to loan files created on or after November 16, 2025; DU had required 620. DU now weighs the whole risk picture. |
Lenders can add their own minimums on top of these (called overlays), so two lenders can give different answers for the same score.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
Start with the loan you are most likely to use. If you are a veteran, a VA loan with no down payment is usually the first one to check. If your score is between 500 and 579, FHA is the program written for you, with 10% down. With a score in the 600s or higher you will usually have conventional and FHA options to compare. Get pre-approved early: the lender pulls your credit and tells you exactly which loans you qualify for.
What’s a good credit score to buy a house?
There is no official cutoff for a “good” score. What a higher score buys you is price: a lower interest rate, and on a conventional loan a lower private mortgage insurance premium. That changes your monthly payment, which changes the price you can afford. Run the payment both ways in our Florida affordability calculator.
Before you apply, check your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute any errors, and avoid opening new credit until after closing.
Florida programs that help first-time buyers
Florida’s down payment and closing-cost programs each set their own credit score minimum, which can be higher than the loan’s. Compare them in our Florida down payment assistance programs and read the first-time buyer guide for Florida before you choose a loan. Buying in Georgia? See the Georgia down payment assistance programs.
More buyer guides
- How Much Is a Down Payment on a House?
- How Long Does It Take to Close on a House?
- Cost to Build a House in Florida vs Buying New Construction
- What is escrow?
- What is an HOA?
Common questions
What credit score do you need to buy a house?
Can I buy a house with a 500 credit score?
Is 580 a good enough credit score to buy a house?
Does the VA have a minimum credit score?
Did Fannie Mae get rid of the 620 credit score minimum?
Sources: FHA 203(b) program summary (HUD rules, FDIC Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide); VA loan guarantee program summary (FDIC Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide); USDA Rural Development guaranteed loan fact sheet; Fannie Mae Selling Guide update, Nov 2025 (Orrick summary). Checked 2026-10-25.
General information for home buyers, current as of 2026-10-25. Loan programs, limits and lender requirements change; confirm the details with your lender before you rely on them. Not legal, tax or lending advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.