Mortgage lenders rely on FICO scores, which range from 300 to 850, pulled from each of the three major credit bureaus. Lenders typically use the middle of your three bureau scores — not the highest and not the average — as your qualifying score.
Mortgage scoring uses an older generation of the FICO model than the score you might see in a free banking app, so don't be surprised if the number a lender pulls differs noticeably from what you've been monitoring elsewhere.
How it works
Score requirements vary by loan program, with FHA generally the most flexible on the low end and jumbo loans typically requiring the strongest credit for the best pricing. Within any given program, pricing tiers step up as your score improves — climbing from a weaker tier into a stronger one can move your rate noticeably even on an identical loan amount.
Your score is built from payment history, amounts owed relative to your limits, length of credit history, new credit inquiries, and the mix of account types you carry. Payment history and amounts owed (credit utilization) are typically the two heaviest-weighted factors.
Because lenders pull a specific mortgage-industry version of your credit report, the score they see can differ by a noticeable margin from consumer apps like Credit Karma, which often use a different FICO version or a competing scoring model entirely.
When it matters to you
Your credit score matters most in the months before you apply — it's one of the few underwriting factors you have real, practical time to improve before locking in a rate.
It matters again the moment you're comparing loan programs, since the minimum score and the pricing curve above that minimum differ meaningfully between FHA, conventional, and jumbo.
Common mistakes
- Only checking a free consumer credit score app and assuming it matches what the mortgage lender will actually pull.
- Opening new credit accounts or making large purchases in the months before applying, which can temporarily lower your score right when it matters most.
- Not disputing a credit report error early enough to have it resolved before applying.
- Assuming there's nothing you can do to improve your score quickly — paying down revolving balances can move utilization-driven scores faster than people expect.
FAQs
What credit score do I need to buy a home?
Minimums vary by loan program — FHA is generally the most flexible, conventional programs typically require a mid-600s score or better, and jumbo loans usually require the strongest credit. Ask a loan officer which program fits your current score.
Why is my mortgage credit score different from my app score?
Mortgage lenders use an older generation of the FICO scoring model than many free consumer apps, which often show a newer FICO version or a different scoring model entirely. A gap of 20-40 points isn't unusual.
How quickly can I improve my credit score before applying?
Paying down revolving credit card balances can move a utilization-driven score within one to two billing cycles. Correcting a credit report error or building longer history takes more time.