What Is the Minimum Credit Score Required?

To obtain FHA loans backed by the U.S. Federal Housing Administration, a minimum score of 500 is required, though approval is difficult to obtain with a credit score under 580.

For conventional mortgage loans, a score of 620 is typically required by most lenders.

Note that certain individual commercial banks will require higher-than-minimum credit scores for FHA financing depending on their own appetites for risk. For example, some lenders mandate a minimum 600 credit score.