Credit & Qualifying
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
Updated Jul 1, 2026
The short answer
There is no single required credit score to buy a home — requirements depend on the loan type. Government-backed FHA loans can allow lower scores, while conventional loans generally reward higher scores with better rates. Because your score directly affects the interest rate you are offered, improving it before you apply can meaningfully lower your monthly payment and total cost.
Key points
- No universal minimum — it depends on the loan program.
- Higher scores generally earn lower rates.
- FHA loans are more flexible on credit than conventional.
- Even a small rate difference adds up over the loan.
Why the rate impact is large
Lenders price risk into your rate, so a lower score can mean a higher rate for the same loan. Over a 30-year term, that gap compounds into thousands of dollars.
Put this to work
Sources
Every claim above traces to a public government source.