Minimums by loan type, why the lender's number may differ from the one in your app, and how to prepare your credit 90 days before applying.
The score you see in your banking app is usually a VantageScore or a consumer FICO. Mortgage lenders pull older FICO models from all three bureaus and use the middle score. It's common for that number to land 20–40 points below what you expected.
Typical minimums
- FHA: 580 with 3.5% down (some lenders go to 500 with 10% down).
- Conventional: 620, but pricing improves substantially above 740.
- VA: no official minimum; most lenders want 580–620.
- USDA: typically 640 for automated approval.
Score isn't everything
Underwriters also look at recent late payments, open collections, and judgments. A 640 with a clean two-year history often beats a 660 with a 60-day late last spring. Debt-to-income ratio matters as much as score.
The 90-day plan
- Pull all three reports and dispute anything inaccurate now — disputes take 30–45 days.
- Pay revolving balances below 10% before statement dates.
- Don't open or close any accounts.
- Don't pay old collections without a strategy — reactivating them can hurt.
- Get a mortgage pre-qualification so you know the real number early.
If you're planning to buy in the next year, the best time to start on your credit is today. Every month of lead time is leverage.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Results vary by credit profile.
