The minimum credit score for a mortgage depends entirely on the program, and the number the lender uses is probably not the one you have been watching.
Written by Renzo Johnson, Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator · Last updated: August 2026
Minimum credit score for a mortgage by program
| Program | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FHA | 580 | Or 500 with 10% down; most lenders set their own floor higher |
| VA | None from the VA | Most lenders require 580 to 620 |
| USDA | None from USDA | Most lenders require 640 |
| Conventional | 620 | Best pricing from 740 upward |
| Jumbo | 700 | Some programs accept 680 |
| Bank statement | 620 | Varies widely by lender |
| DSCR | 660 | Some lenders accept 640 |
| ITIN | Alternative credit | No traditional score needed |
Lenders use your middle score, not your best one
Mortgage lenders pull all three bureaus, then discard the highest and the lowest and use the one in the middle. Therefore scores of 712, 684 and 660 give you a 684, not a 712.
Joint applications go a step further. When two people apply, the lender takes each person’s middle score and then uses the lower of the two. A borrower at 760 applying with a partner at 640 is priced at 640. Because of that, it is sometimes cheaper to apply alone, if one income qualifies on its own. Ask your loan officer to price it both ways.
One more mismatch. The score on a free credit app is usually a consumer model, while mortgage lenders use older FICO versions built for mortgage lending. The two often differ by 20 to 40 points, so treat the app figure as a rough guide rather than a number to plan around.
Pricing moves in bands, so a few points can matter
Rate adjustments are set in 20-point tiers rather than smoothly. A score of 739 prices in the same band as 720, while 740 crosses into the next one. Consequently a three-point improvement is worth nothing on a Tuesday and a great deal on a Wednesday, depending entirely on where you sit relative to the boundary.
Since the biggest quick win is usually credit utilisation, ask your loan officer where you sit before you pay anything down. Reducing card balances well below the limit can move a score within one billing cycle, and if that carries you over a tier boundary it is the cheapest rate reduction available to you.
Below the minimum today
Time and payment history do most of the work, though two things help faster. Correct genuine errors on your report, since disputed inaccuracies come off relatively quickly. Then avoid opening or closing accounts while you shop, because both disturb the file at exactly the wrong moment.
If the score is close, ask about a rapid rescore after you pay balances down. It updates the bureau data in days rather than the usual cycle.
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Program minimums come from agency and government guidelines; individual lenders apply their own overlays above them. You can obtain your reports free at AnnualCreditReport.com, the site authorised by federal law.