There is no single credit score that guarantees a mortgage approval. Credit-score requirements depend on the loan program, underwriting method, lender overlays, loan-to-value ratio, and the rest of the application.
For example, Fannie Mae's April 2026 Selling Guide lists 620 for manually underwritten fixed-rate loans and 640 for manually underwritten ARMs, while Desktop Underwriter (DU) casefiles do not use a single minimum credit-score requirement. Lenders can still apply their own requirements.
Check the rest of your mortgage picture
Credit is only one part of qualification. Model the payment, debt-to-income ratio, and cash needed before comparing lender offers.
Open DTI Calculator →Conventional loans
Conventional underwriting is not accurately summarized by one universal score cutoff. Fannie Mae distinguishes between manual underwriting and DU. Its current guide lists minimum scores for certain manually underwritten loans, while DU evaluates creditworthiness using a broader risk assessment.
A lender may also have overlays that are stricter than agency minimums, and credit score can affect loan pricing even when the file is otherwise eligible.
FHA loans
HUD's FHA Handbook links the borrower's Minimum Decision Credit Score to the maximum insured financing. The current handbook states that borrowers with a score at or above 580 can be eligible for maximum financing; scores from 500 to 579 are limited to a maximum 90% LTV. Other FHA underwriting requirements still apply.
VA loans
The Department of Veterans Affairs does not set a minimum credit score for the VA home-loan benefit. A private lender still evaluates credit, income, debts, and other factors and may set its own minimum score.
Why your score can affect more than approval
- Interest rate and pricing: credit profile can affect rate offers, points, and loan-level pricing.
- Mortgage insurance: conventional PMI pricing can vary with credit and LTV.
- Available loan structures: some products or underwriting paths have different requirements.
- Lender overlays: a lender can require standards above an agency minimum.
What to do before applying
- Review your credit reports for errors before shopping for a mortgage.
- Avoid assuming an online score is identical to the mortgage score a lender will use.
- Compare more than one lender because overlays and pricing can differ.
- Consider DTI, down payment, reserves, and property costs alongside credit.
- Use official Loan Estimates to compare actual offers once you apply.
Bottom line
A credit score is an important mortgage input, but it is not an approval verdict by itself. Check the rules for the loan program you are considering and compare actual lender requirements and pricing for your full financial profile.