What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

Mortgage Guides · Updated for 2026 · About an 8-minute read

Your credit score is one of the biggest factors lenders look at when deciding whether to approve your mortgage and what interest rate to offer. But there's no single magic number — the minimum depends on the loan type, and the rate you're offered improves in tiers as your score climbs. Here's what score you'll realistically need in 2026, how it moves your rate, and how to strengthen it before you apply.

Minimum Credit Scores by Loan Type

Different loan programs set different floors. These are the commonly cited minimums, though individual lenders often layer on stricter requirements of their own (called overlays):

• Conventional loans: Generally require a minimum score around 620. These loans reward higher scores with better pricing.
• FHA loans: Accept scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down. Scores between 500 and 579 may still qualify with 10% down, though fewer lenders offer this.
• VA loans: The VA sets no official minimum, but most lenders look for around 580 to 620. Available to eligible veterans and service members.
• USDA loans: No firm minimum from the USDA, but lenders typically want about 640 for streamlined processing on these rural-area loans.

If your score sits near a minimum, an FHA or VA loan may be more accessible than a conventional one. A licensed loan officer can help you figure out which program fits — and our down payment guide covers how each of these programs handles down payments and mortgage insurance.

How Your Credit Score Affects Your Rate

Meeting the minimum gets you in the door, but your score keeps working after that — it directly shapes the interest rate you're offered. Lenders price loans in credit-score bands, and the difference between tiers can be substantial. A borrower with a score in the 760+ range will typically qualify for a noticeably lower rate than one in the low 600s, even on the same loan.

Over a 30-year mortgage, that rate gap can translate into tens of thousands of dollars in extra interest. In rough terms, lenders often group borrowers like this:

• 740 and above: Excellent — access to the best available pricing.
• 670–739: Good — solid rates, slightly above the top tier.
• 580–669: Fair — approvable on many programs, but at higher rates.
• Below 580: Limited options and the highest pricing; improving your score first is usually worthwhile.

Because even a fraction of a percentage point matters over 30 years, it pays to see how different rates change your payment. Our free mortgage calculator lets you plug in scenarios and compare.

How Mortgage Credit Scoring Works

Mortgage lenders don't always use the same score you see on a free credit app. Many still rely on specific FICO score versions, and they typically pull reports from all three major bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. When there are three scores, lenders commonly use the middle score. For joint applications, they often use the lower of the two borrowers' middle scores.

That's why it's smart to check your credit early. Knowing your actual mortgage-relevant score — not just a rough estimate — helps you set expectations before you get pre-approved. Speaking of which, our guide on pre-approval vs. pre-qualification explains when that credit pull happens in the process.

How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying

If your score isn't where you'd like it, a few focused moves over several months can help:

• Pay every bill on time. Payment history is the largest factor in most scoring models. Even one late payment can hurt.
• Lower your credit utilization. Try to keep balances well below your credit limits — under 30%, and ideally lower. Paying down revolving balances is one of the faster ways to lift a score.
• Avoid opening or closing accounts right before applying. New accounts and hard inquiries can ding your score temporarily, and closing old cards can shorten your credit history.
• Dispute errors. Review your reports from all three bureaus and dispute any inaccuracies — mistakes are more common than people expect.
• Keep old accounts open. A longer average account age generally helps.

Improvements take time to show up, so start well before you plan to apply. Waiting a few months to move up a scoring tier can pay for itself many times over in a lower rate.

The Bottom Line

You can qualify for a mortgage with a credit score as low as 500 to 620 depending on the loan type, but the higher your score, the better the rate you'll be offered — and the more you'll save over the life of the loan. Check your credit early, take a few months to strengthen it if needed, and compare multiple lenders, since each weighs your profile a little differently.