Usually require a minimum score of 640 for automated approval [1]. 🏠 The Key to the Front Door

It started on a rainy Tuesday when Marcus sat across from a mortgage broker named Elena. He had finally saved up what he thought was a decent down payment, his heart full of hope. Elena pulled up his credit report, and the screen flashed a number in stark red: .

Typically require a minimum score of 620 [1].

Today, Marcus stood in an empty living room filled with afternoon sunlight. The smell of fresh paint was thick in the air. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the heavy brass key, and set it on the kitchen counter. He was finally home.

No official minimum, but most lenders require a 580 to 620 [1].

The next thirty-six months were a masterclass in discipline. Marcus stopped using his credit cards for anything he couldn't pay off by Friday. He set up automatic payments so he would never miss a due date again. He took on weekend shifts at the warehouse to pay down an old, forgotten medical bill that was dragging his score into the mud.