There isn’t one universal cutoff. The score you need depends on the mortgage program, how the loan is underwritten, the rest of your application and the lender’s own rules. A 620 score is not a requirement for every mortgage: FHA publishes different score and down-payment rules, the VA eligibility page reviewed here gives no numeric minimum, and Fannie Mae’s automated and manual underwriting paths use different rules.
How mortgage credit-score requirements work
A credit score is one part of a mortgage application, not an approval guarantee. Lenders also assess factors such as income, debts, assets, down payment and the property, under the rules for the loan program and underwriting path. A borrower who meets a published score threshold can still be declined; a lender may also apply requirements stricter than the program’s published rules.
It matters which score rule you are asking about. A government-backed program’s eligibility guidance, a conventional loan’s automated underwriting decision and a lender’s own overlay are not interchangeable. Ask the lender which program and underwriting route it is considering before treating any number as your cutoff.
What score rules do the main mortgage paths publish?
| Loan path | Published score rule | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| FHA | A minimum decision score of 580 permits maximum financing. Scores from 500 through 579 are limited to a maximum 90% loan-to-value ratio. | HUD policy; the 500–579 range generally means at least 10% down, before other program rules. Meeting the score rule does not guarantee approval. |
| VA-guaranteed loan | A numeric minimum is not stated on the VA eligibility page reviewed here. | The page says borrowers need “satisfactory credit, sufficient income, and a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE).” The lender still evaluates the application. |
| Fannie Mae conventional, Desktop Underwriter (DU) | A minimum third-party credit score is not required for DU casefiles. | DU assesses creditworthiness through its risk assessment. Fannie Mae removed its previous minimum for new DU casefiles created on or after November 16, 2025; lenders may set stricter requirements. |
| Fannie Mae conventional, manual underwriting | 620 for fixed-rate loans; 640 for adjustable-rate mortgages. | Fannie Mae Selling Guide rules, subject to the applicable eligibility matrix, loan features and exceptions; lender requirements may be stricter. |
Does FHA have a minimum credit score?
HUD’s FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook, last revised August 13, 2025, sets 580 as the minimum decision score for maximum financing. For a score from 500 through 579, the maximum loan-to-value ratio is 90%, which generally requires at least 10% down. A score below 500 does not meet the score ranges described in that policy.
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The score is not the only FHA condition. FHA loans are made by private lenders, not directly by HUD. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says FHA loans may allow down payments as low as 3.5%, require mortgage insurance and may be worth comparing for borrowers with lower scores or smaller down payments. That 3.5% option is not a promise that every borrower qualifies for it.
HUD’s April 2026 FHA Single Family Origination Trends Report restates the 580-and-above policy and the allowance for scores as low as 500 when the borrower has an equity position of at least 10%. For multiple borrowers, the decision score represents the weakest borrower on the application. The report’s historical scores for endorsed FHA loans describe past borrowers; they are not minimums or predictions for a new applicant.
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Can you get a VA loan with a low credit score?
The VA eligibility page reviewed for this article does not publish a numeric score cutoff. It says a borrower must have satisfactory credit, sufficient income and a valid COE. That means the page does not establish a specific score that guarantees acceptance, nor does the absence of a number mean that every score will be accepted. VA eligibility and a lender’s underwriting decision are separate questions.
Do conventional loans require a 620 score?
Not as a universal rule. Fannie Mae’s April 22, 2026 Selling Guide distinguishes DU casefiles from manually underwritten loans. DU does not require a minimum third-party score, while Fannie Mae’s manual-underwriting rules list 620 for fixed-rate loans and 640 for adjustable-rate mortgages, subject to applicable eligibility rules and exceptions.
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Those rules describe Fannie Mae paths, not every conventional mortgage. Do not assume that a lender uses DU, that every loan is eligible for it, or that another conventional program follows the same requirements. Fannie Mae also says lenders can impose stricter requirements. Credit-score models and their implementation are evolving: VantageScore 4.0 is eligible for approved lenders in specified circumstances, while FICO Score 10T implementation is in progress. Ask the lender which score model and underwriting route it uses for your application.
How can your score affect choices and rates?
The CFPB gives broad guidance about how scores can affect mortgage options, not an approval rule or a rate quote:
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- CONFIDENTLY AND EASILY SOLVE: Clients' financial questions whether they're buyers, sellers, investors or renters. Increase your perceived professionalism as a new agent, experienced broker or seasoned loan officer. Close more home sales and impress your clients with fast, accurate answers to all their real estate finance questions from PITI Payments to IRR, NPV and Cashflows
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- FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT LOAN: For your client at the press of a button for jumbo, conventional, FHA/VA, or even 80:10:10 or 80:15:5 combo loans; check to see if ARMs or bi-weekly loans, quarterly payments or if interest-only payments are the answer; giving your client more choices; easily perform what if loan or TVM calculations find loan amount, term, interest or PITI or PI payments
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| Score range in CFPB guidance | General description |
|---|---|
| Mid-to-high 700s or above | Borrowers generally get the lowest rates. |
| 680–740 | Borrowers typically pay somewhat higher rates. |
| 620–680 | Borrowers generally have fewer choices and may face the most difficulty. |
| Below 620 | Borrowers generally have difficulty qualifying. |
These are qualitative ranges, not guarantees. The CFPB says there are no hard-and-fast rules for how a score affects a mortgage rate. Program eligibility, lender requirements and other parts of your application also matter, so compare actual written offers instead of relying on a score band to predict your terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you ask lenders before applying?
- Which programs did you consider? Ask whether the lender evaluated conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and state housing-finance options that may fit your situation. The available programs and their requirements vary; do not assume a score rule for one applies to another.
- Which underwriting path and score model apply? For a conventional loan, ask whether it is being assessed through Fannie Mae DU or manual underwriting, and which score model the lender uses.
- Do you have an overlay? Ask whether the lender requires a higher score or has other requirements beyond the program rules it described.
- What down payment and mortgage insurance would apply? Compare the actual requirements for each eligible option, including FHA mortgage insurance where applicable.
- Can I compare the complete written costs? Request a Loan Estimate from each lender and compare total costs and loan terms, not just the interest rate or a headline score threshold. The CFPB recommends shopping and comparing offers.
HUD’s current guidance says FHA’s credit-score-model transition is scheduled to change on January 1, 2027. Because that date is still ahead as of October 4, 2026, confirm the rules in effect when you apply rather than assuming today’s score-model procedures will remain unchanged.
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