What credit score do you need to buy a house in the US?
Minimums by loan type, and why a higher score still saves you money.
By the BuffYourCredit teamUpdated November 5, 20268 min read
Common minimums by loan type
- Conventional: typically 620 or higher.
- FHA: 580 with 3.5% down, or 500–579 with 10% down.
- VA: no program minimum, but many lenders look for around 620.
- USDA: many lenders look for 640.
These are general guidelines. Individual lenders often set higher requirements.
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Your DTI matters too
Lenders also check your debt-to-income ratio: your monthly debt payments, including the new mortgage, divided by your gross monthly income. Many look for 43% or lower, with some flexibility for strong applications.
This article is for education and isn’t financial or legal advice. Scoring models and lender practices vary.