Credit Score Needed to Buy a House in 2026: FICO and VantageScore
Updated October 10, 2026 · By Dan Frio, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS #246527
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The short answer: most buyers need a credit score of about 620 for a conventional loan or 580 for an FHA loan with 3.5% down. But the rules changed in the last year, and lenders now have a choice of which score they use. Here is what you need, which score counts, and how to check yours before a lender pulls your credit.
Minimum credit score by loan type (2026)
| Loan type | Minimum score | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac) | No hard minimum for automated approvals; most lenders still want about 620 | Fannie Mae removed its 620 floor for Desktop Underwriter loans in November 2025, and Freddie Mac dropped its floor earlier. Lenders can still set their own minimums. |
| FHA | 580 with 3.5% down; 500 with 10% down | The most flexible option for lower scores. Many lenders set their own minimum above 580. |
| VA | No official minimum; lenders typically want 580–620 | For eligible veterans and service members. No down payment required. |
| USDA | No official minimum; lenders generally want 640 | For eligible rural and suburban areas with income limits. No down payment required. |
| Jumbo | Usually 700 or higher | For loan amounts above the conforming limit. Requirements vary by lender. |
Meeting a minimum gets you in the door. A higher score usually gets you a lower rate and, on conventional loans, cheaper mortgage insurance, so a 40-point improvement can save real money over the life of the loan.
Which credit score do mortgage lenders use?
For decades the answer was always FICO. That changed in 2026. Since September 3, 2026, every lender approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can qualify you with either:
- Classic FICO: FICO Score 2 (Experian), FICO Score 4 (TransUnion) and FICO Score 5 (Equifax), or
- VantageScore 4.0, which can count rent and utility payments and can score people with a thin credit history.
FHA has approved VantageScore 4.0 as well. Each lender picks one model for your loan, and many still use Classic FICO. Lenders pull all three bureaus and typically use the middle of your three scores. With two borrowers, rules vary by loan program: some use the lower of the two middle scores, and Fannie Mae’s automated system can average them.
The score in most free apps is not the one your lender uses. That’s why it pays to check more than one.
Check your scores in 3 steps
- Free score first. Credit Karma shows your free VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and Equifax. It’s the closest free view of the VantageScore 4.0 a lender can now use. Checking never lowers your score.
- See all three bureaus. Lenders look at your Experian, TransUnion and Equifax reports. MyScoreIQ (from IDIQ, the company behind IdentityIQ) shows your reports and FICO scores from all three bureaus, so you can catch an error on one bureau before a lender does. It starts with a 7-day trial. Learn more in our VantageScore 4.0 mortgage guide.
- See your mortgage FICO scores. myFICO is where consumers can see FICO Score 2, 4 and 5. Start with FICO Basic for your Experian FICO Score 2, or upgrade to a 3-bureau plan. Read which FICO versions lenders use.
How to raise your score before you apply
- Pay down credit cards. Utilization (balance divided by limit) is one of the fastest-moving factors. Keeping each card under 30% helps, and under 10% helps more. Pay before the statement date so the lower balance is what gets reported.
- Pay every bill on time. Payment history carries the most weight in both FICO and VantageScore.
- Don’t open new credit. New accounts and hard inquiries can drop your score right when you need it. Wait until after closing to finance furniture or a car.
- Fix report errors. A wrong late payment or a collection that isn’t yours can cost you points. Dispute it with the bureau, or use a dispute tool like Dovly or CreditScoreIQ to find and dispute errors for you. Disputing an error never lowers your score.
- Get credit for rent. VantageScore 4.0 can count rent payments when they’re reported. Ask your landlord or property manager whether they report rent, or use a rent-reporting service.
- Build credit if your file is thin. A Self credit builder account or a secured card adds positive payment history in a few months.
- Ask your loan officer about a rapid rescore. If you pay down a balance or fix an error during the process, a lender can request an updated score in days instead of waiting for the next monthly report.
Not sure your score is high enough? Let’s look at it together.
One application. One credit pull. 30+ lenders compared.
Dan Frio | NMLS #246527 | PBT Bancorp | NMLS #257781. Mortgage products are originated by PBT Bancorp, NMLS #257781. Equal Housing Lender.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lowest credit score to buy a house?
FHA allows scores as low as 500 with 10% down, or 580 with 3.5% down. In practice, many lenders set their own minimum at 580 to 620, so shopping several lenders matters if your score is low.
Is 620 still the minimum for a conventional loan?
Not as a hard rule. Fannie Mae removed its 620 minimum for Desktop Underwriter loans in November 2025, and Freddie Mac had already dropped its floor. Approval now depends on the whole file, but most lenders still look for about 620.
Do mortgage lenders use FICO or VantageScore?
Both are allowed. Since September 3, 2026, any lender approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can choose VantageScore 4.0 or Classic FICO (FICO Score 2, 4 and 5). FHA has approved VantageScore 4.0 too. Many lenders still use FICO.
Why is my Credit Karma score different from my mortgage score?
Credit Karma shows VantageScore 3.0 from two bureaus. Mortgage lenders use Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 from all three bureaus, and they use the middle score. Different models and different data can produce noticeably different numbers.
Does checking my own credit score hurt it?
No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and never affects it. Only a lender’s hard pull for a credit application can.