To Buy A Home - What Credit Score You Need

Your credit score places you into "tiers" that dictate your interest rate and mortgage insurance costs. For a $300,000 loan, the difference between a fair and excellent score can be significant: Average Mortgage Rates by Credit Score - Experian

: No official government minimum score, though most lenders require 580–620 . what credit score you need to buy a home

As of late 2025, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have moved toward more holistic risk assessments, but most individual lenders still enforce the 620 floor. Your credit score places you into "tiers" that

Lenders typically use these baseline scores for the major 2026 mortgage programs: : 580 minimum for a 3.5% down payment. Lenders typically use these baseline scores for the

: 640 is typically required for automated approval.

: 700 to 720+ is standard for loans exceeding conforming limits (typically $806,500 in most areas for 2026). How Your Score Impacts Monthly Costs