Credit score to buy a house: Everything you need to know
What it means for your down payment. You could potentially make a down payment as low as 3.5% on an FHA loan, but you will need a FICO score of 580, at the very least. For this type of loan, you will need to make a down payment of at least 10% if your credit rating is between 500 and 579.
VA loan
To buy a house using a VA loan, there is no government-set minimum credit score. The requirements are that you are a veteran, on active duty in the miliary, or a spouse who qualifies.
Having said that, lenders of VA loans determine their own minimum credit scores, which can vary. Generally, however, the minimum is in the mid-600s, and the average credit score for VA home buyers is 711.
USDA loan
Like VA loans, USDA loans do not have a set minimum credit score and lenders can determine their own minimum score. Scoring above 640 on your credit score, however, will provide you the opportunity for streamlined credit processing on this type of loan.
Jumbo loan
A jumbo loan is for a mortgage to buy a home that is larger than the conforming loan limit. To qualify for a jumbo loan, lenders typically want you to have a credit score above 700, the reason being that lending so much money is considered a high risk. In fact, most lenders will want more than a solid credit score to approve jumbo loans. And you are more likely to get the best jumbo mortgage rates with a FICO score of more than 740.
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