What credit score do you need for a mortgage? FHA, VA, conventional and USDA
Edited by Moe Ameen · Published
It depends on the loan program. HUD's FHA handbook allows maximum financing, 3.5% down on a purchase, with a score of 580 or higher, and 10% down from 500 to 579. VA has no minimum score of its own. Fannie Mae's minimum for manually underwritten fixed-rate loans is 620, and Freddie Mac's fixed-rate page also lists 620. Lenders can and often do ask for more.
Key takeaways
- FHA: 580 or higher for maximum financing, 500 to 579 limits you to 90% loan-to-value, and below 500 isn't eligible.
- VA's lender handbook says VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement. Lenders set their own.
- Fannie Mae: 620 for manually underwritten fixed-rate loans, 640 for ARMs, and no set minimum for loans run through its automated system.
- Your score also affects price. Fannie Mae charges loan-level price adjustments based on your credit score.
What credit score does an FHA loan need?
At least 500. HUD allows maximum financing at 580 or higher, which is 96.5% of the value on a purchase, and caps you at 90% from 500 to 579.
| Minimum Decision Credit Score | What HUD allows | Down payment on a purchase |
|---|---|---|
| 580 or higher | Maximum financing; 96.5% loan-to-value on a purchase [1] | 3.5% |
| 500 to 579 | Maximum loan-to-value of 90% [1] | 10% |
| Below 500 | Not eligible for FHA-insured financing [1] | Not applicable |
HUD's "Minimum Decision Credit Score" is the middle of three scores, or the lower of two. With more than one borrower, the lender takes the lowest of those [1]. Borrowers with no score can still be eligible for maximum financing, but they have to be underwritten by hand [1]. The down payment column is our arithmetic from HUD's loan-to-value limits.
Is there a minimum credit score for a VA loan?
Not from VA. Its lender handbook says plainly that VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement. The lender decides.
VA tells lenders to judge the borrower's overall payment pattern rather than isolated slips, and to verify the last 24 months of rent or mortgage payments [2]. On va.gov, VA says you need to meet both its standards and your lender's for credit and income [3]. Bankrate puts the score lenders commonly ask for at 620 [9].
Other parts of a VA purchase loan matter as much as the score: no down payment as long as the price isn't above the appraised value, no private mortgage insurance, and a funding fee that you may have to pay [3]. Our FHA vs VA loans guide compares the two programs.
What credit score do Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans need?
Fannie Mae requires 620 for manually underwritten fixed-rate loans and 640 for ARMs. Freddie Mac's fixed-rate page lists 620.
Fannie Mae's Selling Guide sets no minimum score for loans run through Desktop Underwriter, its automated system. DU weighs the borrower's risk factors instead [4]. A few transactions are exempt from the minimum altogether, including loans where no borrower has a credit score [4]. With more than one borrower on a manually underwritten loan, Fannie Mae uses the average of each borrower's median score [4].
Freddie Mac's fixed-rate mortgage page states a minimum Indicator Score of 620 unless otherwise specified in its Guide [5]. The page doesn't split that by automated or manual underwriting, and we couldn't read the Guide sections behind it, so treat 620 as the floor on the product page and ask your lender which rules apply. Bankrate notes that some lenders set stricter requirements than the agencies [9].
What credit score does a USDA home loan need?
USDA's handbook doesn't print one number. Its automated system decides what score is acceptable, and manual files need a validated score.
Chapter 10 of USDA's handbook says its automated underwriting system, GUS, determines the acceptable score for its recommendations [6]. For files underwritten by hand, the lender uses the middle of three scores or the lower of two, and at least one borrower needs a validated score: two accounts on the credit report that have been open for 12 months [6]. A validated score alone doesn't prove acceptable credit, the handbook adds [6]. Bankrate's chart lists 640 for USDA loans [9].
The program itself is for homes in eligible rural areas. It allows 100% financing, household income can't exceed 115% of the area median, and you apply through a participating lender [7].
Which credit score do mortgage lenders use?
For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, Classic FICO from all three bureaus, or VantageScore 4.0. FICO 10T isn't eligible yet.
Fannie Mae requires these Classic FICO versions from each bureau when the lender orders a three-bureau credit report: Equifax Beacon 5.0, Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model V2 and TransUnion FICO Risk Score, Classic 04 [4]. FHFA says that since September 9, 2026, every lender selling loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can use VantageScore 4.0 without written permission first. Classic FICO has no retirement date, FICO 10T isn't eligible for delivery yet, and the credit report requirements haven't changed [8].
That's why the score in your banking app may not match the one a mortgage lender sees. The full breakdown is in FICO vs VantageScore.
What should I check before applying for a mortgage?
Your three credit reports, your debt-to-income ratio and, if you've had a bankruptcy, how long ago it was discharged. Each one can stop a file.
- Pull your reports free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Lenders see all three, and they can differ.
- Work out your debt-to-income ratio with our DTI calculator.
- If you've been through bankruptcy, check the waiting periods in rebuilding credit after bankruptcy. They run from the discharge date.
- Score clears the minimum? It still sets your price. Fannie Mae assesses loan-level price adjustments by credit score [4].
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Minimum credit scores by mortgage program, from each agency's own rules
| Program | Agency minimum score | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | 500; 580 for maximum financing | 580+: 96.5% LTV on a purchase. 500-579: 90% LTV | HUD Handbook 4000.1 [1] |
| VA | None | "VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement" | VA Pamphlet 26-7, ch. 4 [2] |
| Fannie Mae, manual underwriting | 620 fixed; 640 ARM | Exact score depends on the Eligibility Matrix | Selling Guide B3-5.1-01 [4] |
| Fannie Mae, Desktop Underwriter | None set | DU assesses risk factors instead | Selling Guide B3-5.1-01 [4] |
| Freddie Mac fixed-rate | 620 | "unless otherwise specified in the Guide" | Freddie Mac product page [5] |
| USDA | No number in the handbook | GUS decides; manual files need a validated score | HB-1-3555, ch. 10 [6] |
Most "minimum score" charts mix the agencies' rules with what lenders typically ask for, and they rarely say which is which. We kept them apart. The VA and USDA rows show why. Neither agency prints a number in the rules we read, so the 620 for VA and 640 for USDA in charts like Bankrate's [9] come from somewhere other than those rules.
Is this right for you?
Best for
- First-time buyers trying to find out which loan programs their score fits today.
- Anyone comparing FHA, VA, conventional and USDA before talking to a loan officer.
Not ideal for
- Shoppers looking for mortgage rates or lender names. We don't publish either.
- Borrowers already in underwriting. Your loan officer can tell you the exact rules on your file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an FHA loan with a 500 credit score?
HUD allows it, with a maximum loan-to-value of 90%, so about 10% down. Below 500 isn't eligible. Lenders may set a higher bar [1][9].
What is the minimum credit score for a VA loan?
VA doesn't set one. Its lender handbook says VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement, so the minimum comes from your lender [2].
What credit score do I need for a conventional loan?
Fannie Mae requires 620 for manually underwritten fixed-rate loans and 640 for ARMs, with no set minimum through its automated system [4]. Freddie Mac's fixed-rate page lists 620 [5].
Which score does a mortgage lender use when I have three?
Usually the middle one. FHA and USDA use the middle of three, or the lower of two [1][6]. With several borrowers, FHA takes the lowest borrower's score [1].
Can mortgage lenders use VantageScore now?
Yes, for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. FHFA says any lender selling to them can use VantageScore 4.0 since September 9, 2026 [8].
How we know this
On November 2, 2026 we read HUD Handbook 4000.1 (August 12, 2026 update), VA Pamphlet 26-7 chapter 4, VA's purchase loan page, Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-01, Freddie Mac's fixed-rate mortgage product page, chapter 10 of USDA's HB-1-3555 handbook and its Section 502 program page, and FHFA's credit score page. We checked the figures against Bankrate's mortgage credit score chart and used it only for lender norms. This page is education only: no mortgage rates, lender recommendations or lender lists.
- Handbook 4000.1, FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook (August 12, 2026 update), II.A.1 and II.A.2, HUD. Checked November 2, 2026.
- VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4: Credit Underwriting, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Purchase loan (last updated January 7, 2026), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Checked November 2, 2026.
- B3-5.1-01, General requirements for credit scores (04/22/2026), Fannie Mae Selling Guide. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Fixed-rate mortgages, Freddie Mac Single-Family. Checked November 2, 2026.
- HB-1-3555, Chapter 10: Credit analysis, USDA Rural Development. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (Section 502), USDA Rural Development. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Credit scores (last updated October 2, 2026), FHFA. Checked November 2, 2026.
- How to improve your credit score for a mortgage, Bankrate. Checked November 2, 2026.