Minimums depend on the loan type
There is no one score that unlocks every mortgage, because each loan program sets its own floor. FHA loans, backed by the government and popular with first-time buyers, often allow scores as low as five hundred eighty with a small down payment, and sometimes lower with a larger one. They are designed to be accessible.
Conventional loans, which follow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, usually want a minimum around six hundred twenty, though stronger scores unlock far better pricing. VA loans for eligible veterans and service members have no official minimum, but most lenders look for around six hundred twenty in practice.
So the first question is not just your number, but which program fits your situation. A score that is too low for one loan may be perfectly fine for another.
Lenders use the middle of three scores
Mortgage lenders pull all three bureaus and usually use a specific set of older FICO versions made for mortgages, not the score you see in a free app. For a single borrower they take the middle of the three scores. For a couple applying together, they often take the lower of the two middle scores, so both files matter.
This is why checking all three reports well before you apply is so important. A strong Experian score does not help if your TransUnion file has an error dragging down your middle number. Giving yourself a few months of lead time lets you address issues before a lender locks in a rate.
It also means the partner with the weaker file can set the rate for both, so couples often plan around strengthening that report first.
The score sets the rate, which sets the payment
Crossing a minimum gets you approved, but your score keeps working after that by setting your interest rate. Lenders price in roughly twenty-point bands, so moving from the mid six hundreds into the seven hundreds can meaningfully lower your rate. On a loan that lasts thirty years, even a fraction of a percent changes your payment and your total interest by a large amount.
This is why many buyers spend the months before applying pushing their score as high as they reasonably can. The difference between barely qualifying and qualifying comfortably can be hundreds of dollars a month for the life of the loan.
A higher score can also reduce or remove certain cost add-ons, so the benefit compounds.
What matters beyond the score
Lenders look at more than three digits. Your debt-to-income ratio, the share of your monthly income that goes to debt payments, is critical, and many programs want it under about forty-three percent. They also want to see stable income, savings for a down payment and closing costs, and a clean recent payment history.
In the year before you apply, keep balances low, do not open new accounts or finance big purchases, and never miss a payment. A single recent late payment or a new car loan can undo months of progress right when a lender is looking most closely.
Getting mortgage-ready is a project you can plan, and starting a year out gives you room to fix small issues before they matter.
Buying a home is one of the biggest goals credit unlocks, and Subefy gives you a mortgage-ready roadmap, three-bureau monitoring, and projected score insights in your own language so you can plan with confidence. If you spot genuinely inaccurate information on your report, you can file a free dispute yourself with the bureau. Estimates are educational, results vary, and no specific result is guaranteed.