{"id":6278,"date":"2020-08-25T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=6278"},"modified":"2024-01-29T17:34:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T00:34:58","slug":"what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>A good credit score is the cornerstone of the home buying process. For everyone from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/first-time-home-buyer-loan\/\">first-time homebuyers<\/a> to real estate investors, credit history plays a huge role. Determining the perfect score comes with many nuances. To understand them, you need to dive a little deeper into the subject. What is a good credit score to buy a house? Let&rsquo;s find out.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-your-credit-score-affects-your-mortgage-loan\">How Your Credit Score Affects Your Mortgage Loan<\/h2>\n<p>A good credit score isn&rsquo;t just the key to getting approved for a home mortgage. It can save you thousands of dollars over the loan term because it affects the interest rate.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credit.com\/credit-scores\/what-does-fico-stand-for-and-what-is-a-fico-credit-score\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FICO scores<\/a>, the most commonly used type of credit score, usually range between 300 and 850. The majority of lenders views your credit score according to these credit score ranges:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Excellent: 750+<\/li>\n<li>High: 700 &ndash; 749<\/li>\n<li>Good: 650 &ndash; 699<\/li>\n<li>Satisfactory: 580 &ndash; 649<\/li>\n<li>Poor: below 580<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A poor or bad credit score doesn&rsquo;t mean you&rsquo;ll be rejected. The lender may approve the loan but spike the interest rate. A low credit score increases the risk of defaults and late payments, so lenders try to protect themselves by boosting the payment size.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creditrepair.com\/blog\/mortgage-and-housing-information\/lenders-asking-for-higher-credit-scores-to-qualify-for-mortgages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">high credit score<\/a> (or, even better, an excellent credit score) shows your ability to pay on time, which lowers the level of risk taken by the lender. This means they&rsquo;re more likely to give you favorable terms, both for the approved loan amount and the approved interest rate.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house-and-have-a-lower-interest-rate\">What is a good credit score to buy a house and have a lower interest rate?<\/h3>\n<p>Let&rsquo;s start with an example. Assume the difference between the interest rate for a person with a 670 credit score and a person with a 750 credit score is about 0.6%. Look at what both people will be paying for a 30-year $200,000 loan (with a down payment of $20,000):<\/p>\n<p>First person (750 credit score): At an interest rate of 3.2%, the monthly payment is $890.<\/p>\n<p>Second person (670 credit score): At an interest rate of 3.8%, the monthly payment $943.<\/p>\n<p>The difference in monthly payments is $53. Over the course of 30 years, the second person will pay $19,080 more than the first person. Having a higher credit score almost always leads to more favorable rates and terms.<\/p>\n<html><body><div id=\"in_post\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/host\" onclick=\"rudderanalytics.track('press editorial cta button', {location: 'first in post', version: '2.0'}, () =&gt; { console.log('track call'); });\">\r\n  <div class=\"first-in-post-cta\">\r\n    <header>\r\n      <h2 id=\"can-we-pay-you-to-store-vehicles\">Can we pay you to store vehicles?<\/h2>\r\n    <\/header>\r\n    <section>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path d=\"M26.7552 20.0573C26.2911 20.9853 26.2499 22.3578 26.2499 24.375H33.7499C33.7499 22.3577 33.7088 20.9853 33.2448 20.0573C33.0557 19.6792 32.8 19.3973 32.3888 19.1841C31.9442 18.9535 31.2108 18.75 30 18.75C28.7892 18.75 28.0558 18.9535 27.6112 19.1841C27.2 19.3973 26.9442 19.6792 26.7552 20.0573Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M28.0777 4.32887C29.3195 3.87732 30.6805 3.87732 31.9223 4.32887L48.7973 10.4652C51.0173 11.2725 52.5 13.3777 52.5 15.7462V33.1425C52.5 33.7407 52.4058 34.3605 52.1888 34.9629C47.861 46.9738 35.9939 53.5676 32.1164 55.464C30.7986 56.1086 29.2843 56.1505 27.9278 55.5549C23.9729 53.8185 12.0728 47.6941 7.77513 34.8948C7.58399 34.3255 7.5 33.7394 7.5 33.1762V15.7481C7.5 13.3807 8.98165 11.2729 11.2027 10.4652L28.0777 4.32887ZM22.4998 24.1662L22.4999 24.375C20.4289 24.375 18.75 26.054 18.75 28.125V35.625C18.75 37.6961 20.4289 39.375 22.5 39.375H37.5C39.5711 39.375 41.25 37.6961 41.25 35.625V28.125C41.25 26.0539 39.5711 24.375 37.5 24.375L37.5 24.166C37.5016 22.4546 37.5037 20.19 36.5989 18.3802C36.0848 17.352 35.2859 16.4621 34.115 15.855C32.9776 15.2652 31.6017 15 30 15C28.3983 15 27.0224 15.2652 25.885 15.855C24.7141 16.4621 23.9152 17.352 23.4011 18.3802C22.4961 20.1901 22.4982 22.4547 22.4998 24.1662Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg><\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"list-your-unused-space\">List your unused space<\/h3>\r\n        <p>People are earning $1,000s per year from their garages and outdoor space.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M13.125 9.375C11.0539 9.375 9.375 11.0539 9.375 13.125V46.875C9.375 48.9461 11.0539 50.625 13.125 50.625H46.875C48.9461 50.625 50.625 48.9461 50.625 46.875V13.125C50.625 11.0539 48.9461 9.375 46.875 9.375H13.125ZM28.125 16.875C28.125 15.8395 28.9645 15 30 15C31.0355 15 31.875 15.8395 31.875 16.875V20.625H35.625C36.6605 20.625 37.5 21.4645 37.5 22.5C37.5 23.5355 36.6605 24.375 35.625 24.375H26.25C25.2145 24.375 24.375 25.2145 24.375 26.25C24.375 27.2855 25.2145 28.125 26.25 28.125H33.75C36.8566 28.125 39.375 30.6434 39.375 33.75C39.375 36.8566 36.8566 39.375 33.75 39.375H31.875V43.125C31.875 44.1605 31.0355 45 30 45C28.9645 45 28.125 44.1605 28.125 43.125V39.375H22.5C21.4645 39.375 20.625 38.5355 20.625 37.5C20.625 36.4645 21.4645 35.625 22.5 35.625H33.75C34.7855 35.625 35.625 34.7855 35.625 33.75C35.625 32.7145 34.7855 31.875 33.75 31.875H26.25C23.1434 31.875 20.625 29.3566 20.625 26.25C20.625 23.1434 23.1434 20.625 26.25 20.625H28.125V16.875Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"approve-your-renters\">Approve your renters<\/h3>\r\n        <p>You're in control. Approve who rents and the hours of access.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M31.2776 51.9974L31.7666 51.5417C32.0789 51.2503 32.527 50.8317 33.0706 50.3224C34.1576 49.3041 35.6276 47.9224 37.158 46.4698C40.1682 43.6127 43.5576 40.3461 44.596 39.1282C46.7163 36.6414 48.1719 33.6468 48.8127 30.4251C49.5529 26.704 49.173 22.847 47.7211 19.3418C46.2692 15.8366 43.8105 12.8407 40.6559 10.7329C37.5015 8.62514 33.7942 7.5 30.0001 7.5C26.2061 7.5 22.4973 8.62504 19.3428 10.7329C16.1882 12.8407 13.7295 15.8366 12.2776 19.3418C10.8257 22.847 10.4458 26.704 11.186 30.4251C11.8268 33.6468 13.2824 36.6414 15.4027 39.1282C16.4411 40.3462 19.831 43.6128 22.8415 46.4698C24.3721 47.9224 25.8422 49.3042 26.9294 50.3225C27.4731 50.8318 27.9212 51.2504 28.2336 51.5418L28.723 51.9979C29.4428 52.6672 30.5579 52.6668 31.2776 51.9974ZM28.723 51.9979C28.723 51.9979 28.7232 51.998 30.0001 50.625L28.723 51.9979ZM30.0001 50.625L31.2776 51.9974C31.2776 51.9974 31.2771 51.9979 30.0001 50.625ZM30 32.8125C33.6243 32.8125 36.5625 29.8744 36.5625 26.25C36.5625 22.6256 33.6243 19.6875 30 19.6875C26.3756 19.6875 23.4375 22.6256 23.4375 26.25C23.4375 29.8744 26.3756 32.8125 30 32.8125Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"get-paid-monthly\">Get paid monthly<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Sit back and collect automatic payments each month.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n    <footer>\r\n      <button>Learn more about hosting <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\">\r\n          <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M18.8304 5.17619L4.55227 11.6663H11.1779C11.8199 11.6663 12.3404 12.1867 12.3404 12.8288V19.4543L18.8304 5.17619ZM19.029 3.43822C20.0069 2.99374 21.0129 3.9997 20.5684 4.97757L13.0612 21.4935C12.5438 22.6316 10.8404 22.2627 10.8404 21.0124V13.1663H2.99417C1.74398 13.1663 1.37497 11.4628 2.51312 10.9455L19.029 3.43822Z\" fill=\"#EFF5F8\"><\/path>\r\n        <\/svg><\/button>\r\n    <\/footer>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\n  <\/div><\/body><\/html><h2 id=\"minimum-credit-score-for-a-home-loan-type-of-loan\">Minimum Credit Score for a Home Loan: Type of Loan<\/h2>\n<p><img  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6281 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"couple and a financial advisor discussing different mortgage types and their requisite credit scores\"  width=\"1254\"  height=\"836\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"(max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor.jpg 1254w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor-380x253.jpg 380w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Discussing-Credit-Scores-and-Mortgage-Applications-Neighbor-1160x773.jpg 1160w\" ><\/p>\n<p>When you&rsquo;re asking, &ldquo;What is a good credit score to buy a house?&rdquo; it depends on the type of mortgage you choose. Here are some of the most common loan types for new mortgages and the credit ratings they require:<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-conventional-mortgages\">1. Conventional Mortgages<\/h3>\n<p>A conventional mortgage is a loan, and it isn&rsquo;t backed by a government agency. It is serviced by private mortgage lenders or financial institutions. These loans tend to have competitive interest rates and flexible repayment periods. However, they rarely have minimal credit score requirements and low down payments.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h4 id=\"pro-tip\">Pro Tip:<\/h4>\n<p>To qualify for a conventional loan, you need a credit score of at least 620.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 id=\"2-fha-loans\">2. FHA Loans<\/h3>\n<p>FHA loans are provided by the Federal Housing Administration. The biggest advantage of such a loan is the possibility of paying only 3.5% of the property price as a down payment.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike conventional loan providers, FHA doesn&rsquo;t demand higher interest rates from borrowers with lower credit scores. Also, the refinancing guidelines are usually lenient.<\/p>\n<p>What is a good credit score to buy a house under the terms of an FHA loan?<\/p>\n<p>If you apply for a loan with a 10% down payment, there is no minimum credit score. However, FHA loan originators may have a minimum score requirement. Usually, it&rsquo;s around 500.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-va-loans\">3. VA Loans<\/h3>\n<p>VA loans are available to a limited audience, and they are managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. You generally have to be a member or a veteran of the U.S. Military, National Guard, or U.S. Military Reserves to qualify. These loans don&rsquo;t have minimum credit score requirements and are available to people with poor credit histories.<\/p>\n<p>What is a good credit score to buy a house if you qualify for a VA loan?<\/p>\n<p>The higher, the better, but a low score won&rsquo;t necessarily stand in your way. The minimum credit score for a VA home loan doesn&rsquo;t exist. However, just as with FHA loans, the private lenders who originate these mortgages can set their own minimums. Generally, they are around 620.<\/p>\n<html><body><div id=\"2_in_post\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/host\" onclick=\"rudderanalytics.track('press editorial cta button', {location: 'second in post', version: '2.0'}, () =&gt; { console.log('track call'); });\">\r\n  <div class=\"second-in-post-cta\">\r\n    <section>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <h2 id=\"earn-1000s-per-year-with-your-unused-space\">Earn $1,000s per year with your unused space<\/h2>\r\n        <button>Become a Neighbor host<\/button>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\n  <\/div><\/body><\/html><h2 id=\"other-factors-that-lenders-consider\">Other Factors That Lenders Consider<\/h2>\n<p>Many people ask what credit score is needed to buy a house without realizing that it isn&rsquo;t the only parameter lenders consider when approving a mortgage. Other factors include:<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"income\">Income<\/h3>\n<p>Lenders check your income to make sure you can afford the estimated mortgage payments.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"debt-to-income-ratio\">Debt-to-Income Ratio<\/h3>\n<p>Lenders may look at other monthly debt payments, like student loans. If the amount you have to pay each month, including the upcoming mortgage payment, is more than about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumerfinance.gov\/ask-cfpb\/what-is-a-debt-to-income-ratio-why-is-the-43-debt-to-income-ratio-important-en-1791\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">43% of your monthly income<\/a>, even a good credit score may not help.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"size-of-the-down-payment\">Size of the Down Payment<\/h3>\n<p>Lenders may consider the initial amount you are willing to pay when deciding whether to accept you. They believe that you are less likely to stop paying if you make a significant initial investment in the property. A high down payment can also lower your interest rate.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"savings\">Savings<\/h3>\n<p>Lenders may want to check how much money you have available to pay off the debt in case you lose your job. If you have enough to make at least two monthly payments, you have a higher chance of acceptance.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"work-history\">Work History<\/h3>\n<p>Some lenders may want to check your employment history to see how often you switch jobs. This can help them assess risks associated with lending.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"home-value\">Home Value<\/h3>\n<p>Lenders want to make sure that the house you are buying is in good condition so that it&rsquo;s worth the investment.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"getting-approved-for-a-mortgage-loan-with-a-low-credit-score\">Getting Approved for a Mortgage Loan With a Low Credit Score<\/h2>\n<p>If you have a less-than-satisfactory credit score, you can improve your chances of approval by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Applying for an FHA loan<\/li>\n<li>Saving up enough money for a formidable down payment<\/li>\n<li>Keeping a large amount in your savings account<\/li>\n<li>Asking someone with a high credit score to apply as a cosigner<br>\nReducing current debt to improve the debt-to-income ratio<\/li>\n<li>Shopping around for different lenders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you want to take some time to repair your credit score, that&rsquo;s also a great personal finance strategy. You can consider renting while beefing up your credit score by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Paying all your bills on time to build a consistent payment history<\/li>\n<li>Keeping credit card balances low<\/li>\n<li>Checking credit reports to track the progress and discover errors<\/li>\n<li>Closing any unused credit cards<\/li>\n<li>Registering to vote (in some instances, this can improve your credit score)<\/li>\n<li>Breaking the financial connection with an ex-partner with a low credit score (e.g., closing your joint accounts)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When asking, &ldquo;What is a good credit score to buy a house?&rdquo; you need to remember that it depends on many factors, including your efforts to improve your score.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h4 id=\"pro-tip-2\">Pro Tip:<\/h4>\n<p>If you purchased a house previously with a low credit rating and a high mortgage rate, you can refinance your mortgage once you have excellent credit to access lower interest rates.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house-frequently-asked-questions\">What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House? Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"q-is-it-possible-to-buy-a-house-with-a-bad-credit-score\">Q: Is it possible to buy a house with a bad credit score?<\/h3>\n<p>A: Yes. Certain types of home buying loans don&rsquo;t require good credit. Additionally, you can prove your reliability to the lender by making a large down payment, showing a good debt-to-income ratio, keeping a hefty amount in your savings account, and demonstrating that your score is increasing.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"q-can-you-get-a-mortgage-without-credit-history\">Q: Can you get a mortgage without credit history?<\/h3>\n<p>A: Yes. If you are a first-time homebuyer without a credit history, you may be approved for an FHA or VA loan. Many financial institutions will also consider you for a conventional mortgage loan. However, it&rsquo;s a good strategy to start developing your new credit history so lenders can better evaluate your creditworthiness.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"q-which-credit-score-is-used-to-buy-a-house\">Q: Which credit score is used to buy a house?<\/h3>\n<p>A: There are a couple different credit score models: a FICO score and a VantageScore. The major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each use these credit scores to determine credit ratings. But to determine the risks of approving a mortgage, lenders work with your FICO score.<\/p>\n<p>This number is calculated based on the information from your credit reports that evaluates your creditworthiness, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The duration of your credit history<\/li>\n<li>The amount of credit<\/li>\n<li>How much available credit you use as a proportion of your total available credit (which is called your credit utilization ratio)<\/li>\n<li>How timely your payments are<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"q-is-a-good-credit-score-enough-to-get-a-loan\">Q: Is a good credit score enough to get a loan?<\/h3>\n<p>A: Generally, a good credit score plays a big role in a mortgage approval. However, lenders also look at other factors, including down payment size, the amount of savings you have, employment history, house value, income, and debt-to-income ratio.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"q-what-is-a-minimum-credit-score-for-first-time-homebuyers\">Q: What is a minimum credit score for first-time homebuyers?<\/h3>\n<p>A: There is no minimum FICO score for first-time homebuyers if they apply for FHA or VA loans. However, the chances of approval are low if your score is below 580.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"q-what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house-at-the-best-interest-rate\">Q: What is a good credit score to buy a house at the best interest rate?<\/h3>\n<p>A: It depends on the lender. But generally, access to the top mortgage rates has a credit score requirement of 750 or higher by the time you submit your mortgage application. If you&rsquo;re purchasing a high-value property and need a jumbo loan, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketmortgage.com\/learn\/jumbo-loan#:~:text=You'll%20usually%20need%20a,median%20credit%20score%20is%20720.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">minimum required credit score is 680<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house-the-takeaway\">What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House? The Takeaway<\/h2>\n<p>Your chances at mortgage approval depend on many factors, the key parameter being your credit score. A good credit score to buy a house varies from 650 to 750 and beyond. Even if you have bad credit or a short credit history, it&rsquo;s possible to be approved for a mortgage. However, you are likely to face a high-interest rate and a sizable down payment. It may make sense to beef up your score first instead of settling for high monthly payments. Low monthly payments can help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/pay-off-mortgage-early-12-easy-steps\/\">pay the mortgage off faster<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A good credit score is the cornerstone of the home buying process. For everyone from first-time homebuyers to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":6280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_appearance_grid":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[188],"tags":[95,58,55,30,14,41],"class_list":["post-6278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-home-buying","tag-buying-a-house","tag-finances","tag-home-advice","tag-how-to-guide","tag-moving-tips","tag-saving-tips","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide - Neighbor Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Credit scores impact the interest rate, amount, and approval status of mortgage loans. We answer the question, &quot;What is a good credit score to buy a house?&quot;\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide - Neighbor Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Credit scores impact the interest rate, amount, and approval status of mortgage loans. We answer the question, &quot;What is a good credit score to buy a house?&quot;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Neighbor Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-08-25T19:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-30T00:34:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/What-Is-a-Good-Credit-Score-Actively-Managing-Credit-Neighbor.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1292\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"812\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Casey Schow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Casey Schow\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/\",\"name\":\"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide - Neighbor Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-08-25T19:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-30T00:34:58+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ef46f0328b3b37ab68cf55f85c8fb21b\"},\"description\":\"Credit scores impact the interest rate, amount, and approval status of mortgage loans. We answer the question, \\\"What is a good credit score to buy a house?\\\"\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/\",\"name\":\"Neighbor Blog\",\"description\":\"Official Blog of Neighbor.com\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ef46f0328b3b37ab68cf55f85c8fb21b\",\"name\":\"Casey Schow\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/873511502b38e10dd39389eb5b1bacf84d3686c247b113655e1180b960e288f6?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/873511502b38e10dd39389eb5b1bacf84d3686c247b113655e1180b960e288f6?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"Casey Schow\"},\"description\":\"With nearly a decade of writing, Casey has spearheaded several high-impact editorial projects at Neighbor, including the \\\"Most Neighborly Cities\\\" series. His expertise lies in crafting engaging narratives that capture community spirit and resonate across various platforms.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/author\/caseyschow\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide - Neighbor Blog","description":"Credit scores impact the interest rate, amount, and approval status of mortgage loans. We answer the question, \"What is a good credit score to buy a house?\"","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide - Neighbor Blog","og_description":"Credit scores impact the interest rate, amount, and approval status of mortgage loans. We answer the question, \"What is a good credit score to buy a house?\"","og_url":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/","og_site_name":"Neighbor Blog","article_published_time":"2020-08-25T19:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-01-30T00:34:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1292,"height":812,"url":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/What-Is-a-Good-Credit-Score-Actively-Managing-Credit-Neighbor.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Casey Schow","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Casey Schow","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/","url":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/","name":"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide - Neighbor Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-08-25T19:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-30T00:34:58+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ef46f0328b3b37ab68cf55f85c8fb21b"},"description":"Credit scores impact the interest rate, amount, and approval status of mortgage loans. We answer the question, \"What is a good credit score to buy a house?\"","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/what-is-a-good-credit-score-to-buy-a-house\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House?: A Comprehensive Guide"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/","name":"Neighbor Blog","description":"Official Blog of Neighbor.com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ef46f0328b3b37ab68cf55f85c8fb21b","name":"Casey Schow","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/873511502b38e10dd39389eb5b1bacf84d3686c247b113655e1180b960e288f6?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/873511502b38e10dd39389eb5b1bacf84d3686c247b113655e1180b960e288f6?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","caption":"Casey Schow"},"description":"With nearly a decade of writing, Casey has spearheaded several high-impact editorial projects at Neighbor, including the \"Most Neighborly Cities\" series. His expertise lies in crafting engaging narratives that capture community spirit and resonate across various platforms.","url":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/author\/caseyschow\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6278"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9257,"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278\/revisions\/9257"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}