Published: 2026-09-03
There is no single credit score that buys a house. Each loan type has its own agency floor, and many lenders sit above that floor. The useful question is which program's published range matches the file, and what still has to be true besides the number.
This page maps typical 2026 ranges for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans using the agencies' own rules. The figures are educational. They are not a quote, a lock, a guaranteed APR, or a promise that any lender will approve a file at the published minimum.
How lenders read a credit score
Mortgage underwriting usually starts with a three-bureau merged report. Fannie Mae's selling guide tells lenders to request classic FICO scores from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion when they order that report. When three scores exist, the middle value is the representative score for a single borrower.
A higher representative score can change pricing through loan-level price adjustments. Fannie Mae assesses those adjustments from the representative score and other loan features. That is a pricing input, not a guaranteed rate.
Credit is only one underwriting factor. Income, debts, down payment, reserves, occupancy, and the property still matter. Two files with the same score can receive different outcomes.
What score do conventional loans typically use in 2026?
For conventional loans run through Fannie Mae Desktop Underwriter, a separate minimum credit score is not required. DU assesses creditworthiness from the full file. That language is in Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-01 as of 2026.
Manual underwriting is stricter. The same Fannie Mae topic sets a 620 minimum for manually underwritten fixed-rate loans and a 640 minimum for manually underwritten ARMs. Those floors still depend on the Eligibility Matrix, including LTV, loan purpose, units, and DTI.
Many lenders still treat 620 as a practical conventional starting point even when DU has no hard cutoff. That is an overlay, not a federal law. A 620 file is not promised the same price as a 740 file. Run payment scenarios in our mortgage payment calculator once you have written numbers to compare, not a guessed score.
What score do FHA loans use?
FHA publishes two credit tiers, not one. HUD's November 2024 FHA Outlook states: "FHA policy permits credit scores of 580 and above, except for loans with equity positions of 10 percent or more, which may have credit scores as low as 500." The current policy book is Handbook 4000.1, last noted as updated August 12, 2026.
In practice that maps to a 3.5 percent minimum down payment at 580 or higher, and a 10 percent minimum down payment in the 500 to 579 band. Scores below 500 are not eligible for FHA-insured financing. Those are insurance minimums. They are not a lender's quote sheet.
FHA can still be more expensive than conventional after mortgage insurance. Compare APR, MIP, cash to close, and payment against a conventional scenario on the same price. Our FHA loan guide covers insurance and county limits. Our loan types hub sits next to that comparison.
Do VA and USDA set a minimum score?
VA does not set a minimum credit score. On its entitlement page, VA writes: "We don't require a minimum credit score, but some lenders do have a requirement, so be sure to contact more than one lender to compare." Residual income and the rest of the file still matter. See the VA loan guide for funding-fee and COE basics.
USDA's Section 502 guaranteed program also publishes no credit-score minimum. Rural Development says applicants "are expected to demonstrate a willingness and ability to handle and manage debt." Property location and household income limits still apply. The USDA eligibility page covers those filters.
Because VA and USDA leave the numeric floor to lenders, the score you hear from one shop can differ from another. Treat each overlay as that lender's rule, not the agency's rule.
Typical 2026 ranges at a glance
| Loan type | Published agency range | What that range is not |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | No DU minimum. Manual fixed-rate 620. Manual ARM 640. | Not a promised price or an approval. |
| FHA | 580+ for standard financing. 500-579 with at least 10% equity. Below 500 ineligible. | Not a lender overlay, and not a rate. |
| VA | No VA minimum score. | Not a waiver of lender credit rules. |
| USDA | No published USDA score minimum. | Not a waiver of income, location, or debt-management review. |
Score note: these are agency rules as of 2026, not a personal underwriting decision. A lender can require a higher score, ask for more down payment, or reprice the file. Nothing here locks a rate or guarantees an APR.
What else moves eligibility besides the score?
Down payment and loan-to-value change which tier you sit in, especially on FHA. Debt-to-income and residual income can outweigh a passing score. Occupancy, property condition, and documentation still have to clear.
A thin file is a different problem than a low score. Fannie Mae has separate nontraditional-credit paths when no borrower has a score. Those paths are not a shortcut around derogatory credit.
If you are still mapping programs, start with the conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA comparison, then price a payment in the mortgage calculator after you have a written Loan Estimate. The calculator models a payment. It does not approve a loan.
Disclaimer: this guide is for general education. HomeMortgageOnline is not a lender, broker, or loan originator. It does not take applications, lock rates, or give financial advice. Real offers vary by credit, down payment, loan type, points, fees, and market conditions.
Sources
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-01, General Requirements for Credit Scores - https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b3-5.1-01/general-requirements-credit-scores
- HUD, Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (update noted August 12, 2026) - https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/single-family-handbook-4000-1
- HUD/FHA, FHA Outlook, November 2024, credit-score policy note - https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/Housing/documents/FHAOT_Nov2024.pdf
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA home loan entitlement and limits - https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-limits/
- USDA Rural Development, Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program - https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-guaranteed-loan-program