For rural and suburban homebuyers. These typically require a 640 score, but manual underwriting may allow for lower scores if you have "compensating factors." ⚡ Strategies to Boost Your Chances
For veterans and active-duty service members. There is technically no minimum credit score set by the VA, though most lenders look for at least 580–620 . buying a house for the first time with bad credit
A family member with strong credit can jump on the loan with you to guarantee the debt. For rural and suburban homebuyers
Pay down credit cards or small loans to show you can handle a monthly mortgage. A family member with strong credit can jump
If you’d like to see which options fit your specific situation: Your (e.g., 550, 600) Your monthly income and current total debt The area or state where you're looking to buy
Don't open new credit cards or take out an auto loan while preparing to buy.
The most popular choice. You can qualify with a score as low as 580 with a 3.5% down payment. If your score is between 500 and 579 , you may still qualify if you can provide a 10% down payment.