Which FICO score do mortgage lenders use?
The most commonly used FICO Score in the mortgage-lending industry is the FICO Score 5. According to FICO, the majority of lenders pull credit histories from all three major credit reporting agencies as they evaluate mortgage applications. Mortgage lenders may also use FICO Score 2 or FICO Score 4 in their decisions.
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 Score | National average mortgage APR |
|---|---|
| 660 to 679 | 7.291% |
| 680 to 699 | 7.077% |
| 700 to 759 | 6.900% |
| 760 to 850 | 6.678% |
An Equifax credit score isn't used by lenders or creditors to assess a consumers' creditworthiness. Instead, many lenders use FICO Scores® to help determine a potential borrower's creditworthiness. FICO uses credit scores from the three reporting agencies, including Equifax and Transunion, to determine their score.
Simply put, there is no “more accurate” score when it comes down to receiving your score from the major credit bureaus.
Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.
Most lenders consider a score of 740 or higher to be excellent. However, the credit score needed to buy a house using a conventional loan can be as low as 620. For a government loan, like an FHA or VA loan, a minimum credit score of 580 is required by most lenders.
You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with scores as low as 500. Whether you qualify for a specific loan type also depends on personal factors like your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), loan-to-value ratio (LTV) and income.
| Type Of Loan | Minimum FICO® Score |
|---|---|
| Conventional loan | 620 (Federal Housing Financing Agency requirement) |
| Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan with a 3.5% down payment | 580 (FHA requirement) |
| FHA loan with a 10% down payment | 500 (FHA requirement) |
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans need at least a 580 FICO Score with at least a 3.5% down payment (which amounts to $10,500 on a $300,000 home). Conventional loans require a minimum FICO® Score of 620 along with a 3% down payment (which amounts to $9,000 on a $300,000 home).
Why is my Equifax score 100 points lower than TransUnion?
Scoring Models: Both agencies use slightly different scoring models to calculate credit scores. This means that the same credit activity can have different impacts on the scores calculated by each agency. They each also consider certain factors more heavily than others when calculating scores.
In general, you'll typically need at least a 620 FICO Score to qualify for a fixed-rate conventional loan. If you want an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the minimum score requirement is generally 640.
FHA loan rules provide clear instructions for the lender when it comes to verifying your ability to afford a home loan. Lenders look at the credit reports in your name at the three major credit reporting agencies; TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.
Your FICO Score is a credit score. But if your FICO score is different from another of your credit scores, it may be that the score you're viewing was calculated using one of the other scoring models that exist.
Like FICO scores, VantageScores range from 300 to 850 while assigning different weights to payment history, credit usage, and other activity.
How many Americans have an 850 credit score? Only 1.31% of Americans with a FICO® Score have a perfect 850 credit score. While a score this high is rare among any demographic, older generations are more likely to have perfect credit. Baby boomers make up a whopping 59.4% of the people with an 850 credit score.
Most mortgages, including conventional loans, require a credit score of 620 or higher. It's possible to get an FHA loan with a credit score as low as 500, but many lenders require higher scores.
You can borrow $50,000 - $100,000+ with a 720 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.
- Make your payments on time. ...
- Set up autopay or calendar reminders. ...
- Don't open too many accounts at once. ...
- Get credit for paying monthly utility and cell phone bills on time. ...
- Request a credit report and dispute any credit report errors. ...
- Pay attention to your credit utilization rate.
Most conventional loans are backed by mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae says that conventional loans typically require a minimum credit score of 620.
What credit score is needed to buy a 500k house?
Mortgage lenders typically want to see a score of 620 or better before approving a conventional mortgage.
A FICO score below 580 or a VantageScore of less than 601 is considered a bad credit score.
| Annual Percentage Rate (APR) | Monthly payment (15-year) | Monthly payment (30-year) |
|---|---|---|
| 6.50% | $2,613.32 | $1,896.20 |
| 6.75% | $2,654.73 | $1,945.79 |
| 7.00% | $2,696.48 | $1,995.91 |
| 7.25% | $2,738.59 | $2,046.53 |
| 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 |
Government-backed loan options, such as FHA, USDA and VA loans, are typically the easiest type of mortgage to get because they may have lower down payment and credit score requirements compared to conventional mortgage loans.
