What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House?

A Top Ten Most Googled Mortgage Question.

By Clay Edmonds

One of the top mortgage questions people are Googling right now is simple on the surface, but nuanced in reality:

What credit score do I need to buy a house?

The honest answer is the same one you’ll hear repeatedly when it comes to mortgage financing:

It depends.

The Common Answer You Hear (But Not the Full Truth)

Most consumers have heard that you need a 580 credit score to buy a home. That number often comes up because it’s a common baseline for FHA financing.

But here’s the part that gets missed:

👉 There is no single universal credit score requirement that applies to everyone.

In some situations, lenders will approve loans with scores below 580. In other cases, borrowers may qualify even without a traditional credit score at all, depending on the loan program and the borrower’s overall financial profile.

What a Credit Score Really Means to a Lender

A credit score isn’t a judgment. It’s a risk indicator.

It tells a lender two primary things:

Your history of repaying debt
Your likelihood of repaying future debt

Generally speaking:

Higher credit scores usually mean more loan options and better interest rates
Lower credit scores don’t automatically mean no—but they do mean fewer options and more scrutiny

The score never stands alone.

Yes, Borrowers With Lower Scores Can Still Qualify

This surprises a lot of people.

For example:

Veterans may qualify for VA financing with credit scores below 600 and still receive reasonable rates, depending on the full loan profile.
Borrowers with stable income, solid employment history, or strong compensating factors may qualify even with credit challenges.

Again—it depends on the entire picture, not just the number.

Your Financial Profile Is Like a Fingerprint

No two borrowers are the same.

When a lender reviews a mortgage, they look at:

Income and income stability
Employment history
Assets and reserves
Monthly debt obligations
Property type
Purpose of the loan (primary residence vs investment property)

Your credit score interacts with all of these factors. That’s why generic internet advice often misses the mark.

Why Working With a Mortgage Broker Matters

If you walk into:

A bank
A credit union
A retail lender

You’re limited to their loan programs.

A mortgage broker has access to hundreds of lenders and programs and can:

Match your specific profile to the right option
Find solutions single institutions can’t offer
Create flexibility when credit isn’t perfect

More options almost always lead to better outcomes.