When you're applying for a credit score for mortgage, a three-digit number lenders use to judge how risky you are as a borrower. Also known as FICO score, it's one of the first things a lender checks before even looking at your income or savings. A score below 620 can shut doors. A score above 740 opens the best rates. But it’s not just about the number—it’s about what’s behind it.
Your credit score for mortgage doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s shaped by your payment history, how much debt you carry, how long you’ve had credit, and how often you apply for new loans. Lenders don’t just want to see a number—they want to see a pattern. If you’ve missed payments, maxed out cards, or have collections on your report, even a 680 score might not be enough. But if you’ve paid on time for years, kept balances low, and haven’t opened five new accounts in six months, a 650 score can still get you approved—especially as a first-time buyer.
Many people think they need a perfect score to buy a home. That’s not true. Programs like FHA loans let you qualify with scores as low as 580 if you can put down 3.5%. VA loans don’t even have a minimum score requirement—though most lenders still want 620. The real issue isn’t the score itself. It’s whether your overall financial picture makes sense. Do you have steady income? Can you prove you’ll keep paying? Do you have savings for closing costs and emergencies? Those questions matter just as much as the number on your credit report.
And here’s the thing: your score isn’t fixed. If you’re starting low, you can build it. Paying down credit cards, disputing errors, and becoming an authorized user on someone else’s well-managed account can lift your score in months—not years. You don’t need to wait until you have an 800 to start looking at homes. You just need to understand what’s holding you back—and how to fix it.
Below, you’ll find real answers from people who’ve been in your shoes. How much can you borrow with a 650 score? Can you buy a house on $40k a year with a shaky credit history? What’s the difference between a 700 and a 750 score when it comes to monthly payments? These aren’t theory questions. These are the exact issues covered in the posts ahead—no fluff, no marketing speak, just straight talk from buyers who got through it.
