The short answer: it depends on the loan type. FHA loans go as low as 580. Conventional loans typically want 620 or higher. VA loans for veterans have no official minimum, though most lenders want to see at least a 580–620. And the higher your score, the better your interest rate — which adds up to real money over 30 years.
Here's how it actually breaks down.
What credit score do you need for an FHA loan?
FHA loans are the most flexible. With a 580 or above, you can put as little as 3.5% down. If your score is between 500 and 579, you can technically still qualify — but you'll need at least 10% down, and finding a lender who'll approve it gets harder.
Most of my clients using FHA loans are in the 580–650 range. It's very doable.
What credit score do you need for a conventional loan?
Conventional loans — the most common type — usually start at 620. But here's what people don't realize: your rate changes a lot based on where your score lands. Someone with a 620 and someone with a 740 can both get approved, but they're going to get very different interest rates.
Roughly speaking, every 20-point jump in your credit score can save you $30–$80 a month on a $600,000 loan. Over 30 years, that's real money.
What credit score do you need for a VA loan?
If you're a veteran or active duty military, VA loans are one of the best deals in the mortgage world — zero down, no PMI, and competitive rates. The VA itself doesn't set a minimum credit score, but most lenders want to see at least 580–620 to get approved.
What if your credit score is low right now?
You might be closer to qualifying than you think — and even if you're not, a few months of focused work can move your score more than people expect.
The things that move the needle fastest:
Paying down credit card balances below 30% of your limit is usually the biggest lever. If you have a card with a $5,000 limit and a $4,500 balance, getting that under $1,500 can jump your score meaningfully in 30–60 days.
After that, it's about making sure there are no errors on your report, keeping accounts open (closing old cards actually hurts you), and not applying for new credit while you're getting ready to buy.
I can pull your credit with no hard inquiry to start
One thing that scares people off is the idea that checking their credit will hurt their score. That's true for hard inquiries — but not for soft pulls, which is where we start. We can look at your full picture without touching your score at all, and I'll tell you exactly where you stand and what, if anything, needs to happen before you apply for pre-approval.