What is Good Credit?

What score do I need to buy a home?

Is My Credit Score Good Enough?

Answers To All Those Credit Score Questions:

What Is Considered Good Credit?

Good credit can mean different things for different types of loans.
What's The Best Good Credit Loan?

If you have 20% down payment saved and good credit, Conventional Loans will usually be your best option. If you have less saved or need down payment assistance, likely FHA will be your best option.
Why Does My Credit Score Look Different For A Home Loan?

Home lenders use a different scoring model that typically is a lower score. Lenders use a mortgage scoring model which is typically lower than a consumer credit score you often see on credit websites.

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A Good Score Depends On The Type Of Loan

While the credit scores typically range between 400 and 850, each loan type has a different measuring stick for what a good score is.

Below we’ll look at what a good score is for the most popular types of home loans in the US. The three we’ll cover are FHA loans, VA loans, and Conventional Financing loans. Each has a different range for what is good enough to qualify and what is ideal for the lowest rates and payments.

Good Credit for FHA Loans

FHA loans are not as credit score sensitive as Conventional loans. To qualify for an FHA loan, you only need a 580 credit score.

However, to get the best deals on an FHA loan, you will want to have around a 640 credit score or better. 640 is considered good credit for an FHA loan. The rate and payment you receive doesn’t improve drastically for higher credit scores.

FHA often has quite a few options for getting help with coming up with the down payment. To get these, a good credit score is typically 680, but this can change based on where you’re buying a home. Down payment programs are typically specific to more local areas like a city or county, so these can vary area by area.

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Good Credit for Conventional Loans

Conventional loans are very sensitive to credit scores. Every 20 point change can drastically move your rate and payment.

A good score for Conventional loans is 720. Below this, FHA might be a better choice unless you have 20% of your own funds for down payment. To get the very best deals (lowest rates and payments) on Conventional loans, a 760 or higher score is needed.

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Good Credit for VA Loans

VA, like FHA, is not as sensitive to credit score movements. To qualify, you’ll typically need a 580 score at minimum. However, you’ll also need to have been a Veteran of the US armed services to qualify and meet other eligibility criteria set forth by the Veterans Administration.

A good score to get the best rates and payments for VA loans is a 640 credit score. Your rates and payments will get slightly better if you get to 700 or higher, but not by a large amount compared to the Conventional loan. The VA loan is one of the best loans in the world and if you can qualify, you will enjoy some of the best loan terms available in the United States. This includes the option of no Down Payment or Mortgage Insurance.

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HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS?

Our Loan Experts Can Help

Is There A Benefit To Having A Credit Score Over 800?

For homebuying, there is typically no difference for any score over 760. The one exception is Jumbo home loans which is when the loan size is too big for a loan to be FHA or Conventionally financed.
I Thought VA Didn't Have A Minimum Credit Score?

This is technically true, however, VA does not offer the home loans themselves and relies instead on banks to provide them and the VA to only insure them. Most banks have added a requirement of at least a 580 credit score to qualify.
Do Mortgage Credit Pulls Hurt My Score?

The short answer – No. Mortgage credit checks (sometimes called pulls) are categorized differently from a credit card requestor pulling your score. The bureaus understand that opening up a house loan is considered good debt, where opening up a bunch more credit cards is not.
My Credit Score Is 700 - Should I Get Conventional Or FHA Financing?

Conventional interest rates are typically worse than FHA rates at that credit score. Conventional would be the best option only if you have 20% down payment saved. This allows Conventional loans to avoid mortgage insurance, where FHA always requires it.
I Don't Have A Down Payment Saved For A Home. What Credit Score Do I Need For Down Payment Assistance?

Typically a 680 credit score will be enough to qualify for down payment help, but this varies by program and programs are offered regionally. You’ll need to check within your area to see if a program is available.

Spire Financial brings lending expertise to you. All of our loan officers offer personalized communication for every client, guiding them through the process. We can show you ways to maximize your finances and unlock future opportunities. Spire Financial keeps you in control of refinancing, debt consolidation, and home equity. Together, we can achieve your financial goals.