By Adam Chubbuck, Team Leader, Team Alpha Charlie of Douglas Realty. Retired U.S. Navy Chief. Licensed in Maryland and Virginia.
This is one of the most common questions I get, and it comes with a lot of anxiety attached.
The short answer: probably lower than you think. The longer answer is that your score affects what you pay, not just whether you qualify.
The General Thresholds
These are what lenders commonly look for. Individual lenders set their own overlays and can be stricter, so confirm with yours.
Conventional loans: commonly 620 or higher.
FHA loans: commonly 580 with 3.5 percent down. Some lenders will go as low as 500 with 10 percent down, though that is harder to find.
VA loans: the VA itself does not set a minimum credit score. Lenders do, and they commonly look for something in the 580 to 620 range. If you are eligible for VA, this is usually your strongest option regardless.
USDA loans: commonly around 640.
If you are anywhere in the 600s, you almost certainly have options. Talk to a lender before you assume you do not.
Your Score Affects Your Payment, Not Just Approval
This is the part people miss.
Two buyers can both get approved for the same loan and pay meaningfully different rates based on credit. On a 30 year mortgage, even a small rate difference compounds into real money.
For reference, Freddie Mac reported the 30 year fixed averaging 6.67 percent as of August 13, 2026, and that survey reflects borrowers with strong credit. Your quoted rate may differ.
And your score affects mortgage insurance. On a conventional loan with less than 20 percent down, private mortgage insurance is priced partly on credit. A better score means a lower monthly PMI cost on top of a lower rate.
What Actually Moves Your Score
If you have a few months before you buy, focus on the two things that matter most.
Pay everything on time. Payment history is the single largest factor. One missed payment does real damage.
Lower your credit card balances. Utilization, meaning how much of your available credit you are using, is the second biggest factor and the fastest to improve. Getting balances well below your limits can move your score in a single billing cycle.
Things that help less than people think: closing old credit cards, which can actually hurt by reducing your available credit and shortening your history. And paying off a car loan, which helps your debt-to-income ratio for qualification purposes but may not move your score much.
What Not to Do Once You Start
This applies from the moment you get pre-approved through settlement day.
Do not open new credit accounts. No store cards, no new credit cards, no financing offers.
Do not buy a car. I have watched buyers lose loans in the final week over a car purchase.
Do not finance furniture or appliances, even at zero percent.
Do not close existing accounts.
Do not let anything go late.
Do not move large sums between accounts. Unexplained deposits create documentation requirements that slow your file down.
Your lender will re-pull your credit before closing. Sit still.
Your Score Is Not the Only Thing
Lenders look at the whole picture, and a strong showing elsewhere can offset a mediocre score.
Your debt-to-income ratio. How your monthly obligations compare to your income. This is often more limiting than your score.
Your down payment. More down reduces the lender’s risk.
Your reserves. Money left in the bank after closing.
Your employment history. Stability matters.
This is why the calculator answer is unreliable. Get a real lender to look at your actual situation.
If Your Score Is Not There Yet
Talk to a lender anyway. They will tell you specifically what to fix, which is far more useful than general advice. Many will map out a plan and check back with you.
Be careful with credit repair companies. Some are legitimate. Many charge for things you can do yourself. A good loan officer will typically give you the same guidance for free.
Pull your reports and check for errors. You are entitled to free copies of your credit reports, and errors are more common than people expect. Disputing a genuine error is one of the fastest ways to improve a score.
Give it a few months. Consistent on-time payments and lower card balances move the needle faster than most people assume.
Do Not Rule Yourself Out
The most common thing I see is people who assume they cannot buy and never ask. Then a year later they find out they could have.
Talk to a lender. It costs nothing, and it either gets you moving or gives you a specific plan.
If you need a referral to someone who will give you a straight answer, reach out to Team Alpha Charlie of Douglas Realty. If this is your first purchase, Maryland first time homebuyer programs for 2026 is worth reading.
Quick Answers
What is the minimum credit score to buy a house?
It depends on the loan. Lenders commonly look for 620 or higher for conventional, 580 for FHA with 3.5 percent down, around 640 for USDA, and roughly 580 to 620 for VA, though the VA itself sets no minimum. Individual lenders set their own requirements.
Can I buy a house with bad credit?
Often yes, particularly through FHA. Your score affects your rate and your mortgage insurance cost as well as approval, so a lower score means a higher payment. Talk to a lender before assuming you cannot buy.
How can I raise my credit score quickly?
Pay everything on time and lower your credit card balances relative to your limits. Utilization is the fastest factor to improve and can move your score within a billing cycle. Also check your credit reports for errors and dispute any you find.
Will checking my credit hurt my score?
Checking your own reports does not. Multiple mortgage inquiries within a short shopping window are generally treated as a single inquiry, so comparing lenders will not damage your score meaningfully.
Can I buy a car while buying a house?
No. New debt during the process can change your qualification and cost you the loan. Wait until after settlement to finance anything.
Credit score requirements are set by individual lenders and vary. Rate figures reflect the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey of August 13, 2026, which reflects borrowers with strong credit. This is general information, not lending or credit advice. Consult a licensed lender for your situation.
I am Adam Chubbuck, Team Leader of Team Alpha Charlie of Douglas Realty. Retired U.S. Navy Chief, licensed in Maryland and Virginia, and I have closed more than 350 homes over the past five years across the Baltimore to Annapolis corridor. My team serves buyers and sellers throughout Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and the surrounding markets, with deep experience supporting military, veteran, and Department of Defense families.
443-347-6692 | [email protected] | TACMD.com
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Adam Chubbuck
