This is one of the first questions almost every buyer asks, and the answer is not as scary as most people think. For a normal conventional loan, most lenders want to see a credit score of at least 620. That’s not sky-high, and plenty of buyers hit that number without even trying hard.
If your score is a bit lower, you’re still not out of the game. FHA loans, which are backed by the government, can work with scores as low as 580, and sometimes even lower if you put more money down. These loans were built to help everyday people become homeowners, not just buyers with perfect credit.
Here’s the part that matters most: your score doesn’t just decide if you get a loan, it decides how much that loan costs you every month. A score above 740 usually gets you the best interest rates. So even a small jump in your score, like paying down a credit card, can save you real money over the life of the loan.
Because I’m also a licensed mortgage loan originator, I can look at your actual credit and walk you through real numbers, not just rules of thumb. I cover credit and financing questions on my YouTube channel, @AthensRealEstatePro, too. If you’re not sure where you stand, let’s talk before you start house hunting.