What credit score is needed to buy a house with no money down?
You'll usually need a credit score of at least 640 for the zero-down USDA loan program. VA loans with no money down usually require a minimum credit score of 580 to 620. Low-down-payment mortgages, including conforming loans and FHA loans, also require FICO scores of 580 to 620.
However, most lenders offering these loans do, and they'd want them to be at least in the “fair” range: 620 for VA loans, 640 for USDA loans.
| Mortgage Type | Minimum Credit Score |
|---|---|
| Conventional loan | 620 |
| FHA loan (3.5% down payment) | 580 |
| FHA loan (10% down payment) | 500 – 579 |
| VA loan | No industry-standard credit score requirement (Rocket Mortgage® requires a 580 score) |
While most lenders use the FICO Score 8, mortgage lenders use the following scores: Experian: FICO Score 2, or Fair Isaac Risk Model v2. Equifax: FICO Score 5, or Equifax Beacon 5. TransUnion: FICO Score 4, or TransUnion FICO Risk Score 04.
To buy a house with a conventional loan, for example, you'll need at least a 620 credit score. But don't worry. Even if your credit score hovers somewhere in the 500 – 600 range, you can still secure a home loan.
Down payments are a major hurdle for many home buyers because it can take years to save up a lump sum of cash. The only way to get a zero-down payment mortgage from major mortgage investors is through a government-backed loan, which is insured by the federal government.
The required credit score to buy a $300K house typically ranges from 580 to 720 or higher, depending on the type of loan. For an FHA loan, the minimum credit score is usually around 580.
Charge mortgage insurance premiums at a reduced rate. Don't have a pre-set credit score but most lenders require 620+
You can borrow anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000+ with a 580 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.
Some types of mortgages have specific minimum credit score requirements. A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.
What is the most commonly used credit score?
FICO scores are generally known to be the most widely used by lenders. But the credit-scoring model used may vary by lender. While FICO Score 8 is the most common, mortgage lenders might use FICO Score 2, 4 or 5. Auto lenders often use one of the FICO Auto Scores.
While the FICO® 8 model is the most widely used scoring model for general lending decisions, banks use the following FICO scores when you apply for a mortgage: FICO® Score 2 (Experian) FICO® Score 5 (Equifax) FICO® Score 4 (TransUnion)
FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score.
| Average FICO 8 Score by Generation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 2022 | 2023 |
| Generation Z (ages 18-26) | 679 - Good | 680 - Good |
| Millennials (27-42) | 687 - Good | 690 - Good |
| Generation X (43-58) | 707 - Good | 709 - Good |
To qualify for a conventional loan, you'll need a credit score of at least 620, though some lenders may choose to approve conventional mortgage applications only for borrowers with credit scores of 680 and up.
Which Credit Score Do Mortgage Lenders Use When Reviewing Mortgage Applications? Mortgage lenders primarily look at FICO® Scores 2, 4 and 5 when determining a borrower's creditworthiness as they apply for a home loan.
First-time buyers can qualify for a variety of down payment assistance loans. Many charities and local government programs offer them, with varying requirements, but in general you'll need to be low income and buying your first property to qualify.
A conventional loan down payment could be as little as 3 percent. FHA loans require as little as 3.5 percent, and VA loans and USDA loans have no down payment requirement at all. Most homeowners don't put 20 percent down.
- Receive gift money. A gift from a family member or someone else with whom you have a close relationship may be part of your down payment, in some cases. ...
- Take a loan from your 401(k) or other retirement plan. ...
- Sell something. ...
- Receive a windfall. ...
- Give your savings a boost.
Assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year fixed-rate loan at an interest rate of 7 percent, you can afford the payments on a $240,000 home, according to Bankrate's mortgage calculator.
How much is a monthly payment on a 300k house?
| Annual Percentage Rate (APR) | Monthly payment (15-year) | Monthly payment (30-year) |
|---|---|---|
| 6.25% | $2,572.27 | $1,896.20 |
| 6.50% | $2,613.32 | $1,896.20 |
| 6.75% | $2,654.73 | $1,945.79 |
| 7.00% | $2,696.48 | $1,995.91 |
The amount of income you need to afford a $300k home will depend on several factors. Your credit score, down payment, debt-to-income ratio, and mortgage rate will all impact how much home you can afford. However, as a general rule, your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income.
Assuming you have enough in savings to cover the down payment, closing costs and cost of regular upkeep, yes, you probably could afford a $200K home on a $50K annual salary. Using our example above, the monthly mortgage payment on a $200K home, including taxes and insurance, would be about $1,300.
If you follow the 2.5 times your income rule, you divide the cost of the home by 2.5 to determine how much money you need to earn annually to afford it. Based on this rule, you would need to earn $100,000 per year to comfortably purchase a $250,000 home.
The annual salary needed to afford a $400,000 home is about $127,000.
