How can I raise my credit score fast before buying?

Pay down credit-card balances to lower your utilization, make every payment on time, avoid opening new accounts, keep old accounts open, and dispute any errors on your report. Even a small increase can improve your rate. Mindy can point out the quickest wins for your situation.

What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House?

Q: What credit score do you need to buy a house?

There is no single required score. Conventional loans generally start around 620, FHA loans can go as low as 580 (or 500 to 579 with a larger down payment), and VA and USDA loans are flexible with no universal minimum, though lenders set their own guidelines. A higher score usually earns a better rate. Mindy can review your credit and tell you exactly where you stand.

Q: Can I buy a house with a 580 credit score?

Often yes. FHA loans allow a score as low as 580 with 3.5% down for eligible borrowers, and some programs go lower with a larger down payment. Mindy will match you to the program that fits your credit profile.

Q: Does getting pre-approved hurt your credit score?

The impact is small and temporary. A mortgage credit check is a hard inquiry that may lower your score a few points, and multiple mortgage inquiries in a short window are usually counted as one. The benefit of knowing your true budget far outweighs the minor dip.

Minimum credit scores by loan type

These are typical starting points. Lenders can set their own overlays, and your full picture (income, debts, down payment) matters too.

Loan type	Typical minimum score
FHA	580 with 3.5% down (500 to 579 with 10% down)
VA	No set minimum; lenders often look for 580 to 620
USDA	Around 640 is common
Conventional	Generally 620+
Jumbo	Usually 700+

Why your score matters

Your credit score does two things: it decides which loans you qualify for, and it heavily influences your interest rate and mortgage insurance cost. The difference between a fair score and a strong one can add up to real money over the life of the loan, so it is worth a little effort before you buy.

What if my score is lower than I'd like?

Don't count yourself out. FHA is designed for exactly this situation, and even if your score isn't perfect, Mindy can review your full profile and compare programs to find your best fit. Sometimes buyers qualify for more than they expect; other times a few focused weeks of credit work make a meaningful difference.

How to raise your score fast

Pay down credit-card balances to lower your utilization (aim for under 30%, lower is better).
Pay on time, every time. Payment history is the biggest factor.
Don't open new accounts right before or during the loan process.
Keep old cards open to preserve your credit history length.
Dispute errors on your credit report; mistakes are more common than you'd think.

It's not just the score

Qualifying is about the whole picture: your score, your income and debts (debt-to-income ratio), your down payment, and your reserves. That is why the smartest first step isn't guessing online, it's a quick review with Mindy, who can tell you where you actually stand and what, if anything, would help.

Mindy Hay is a senior loan officer with Union Home Mortgage, based in Tigard and serving the greater Portland metro, Southwest Washington, and Arizona.

Frequently asked questions

What credit score do you need to buy a house?

There's no single required score. Conventional generally starts around 620, FHA can go to 580 (or 500 to 579 with more down), and VA and USDA are flexible. A higher score usually earns a better rate. Mindy can tell you exactly where you stand.

Can I buy with a 580 score?

Often yes. FHA allows 580 with 3.5% down for eligible borrowers, and some programs go lower with a larger down payment.

Does getting pre-approved hurt my credit?

Only a little and only briefly. A mortgage inquiry may lower your score a few points, and multiple mortgage inquiries in a short window usually count as one. Knowing your real budget is worth it.

How can I raise my score fast?

Pay down card balances, pay on time, avoid new accounts, keep old cards open, and dispute errors. Even a small bump can improve your rate. Ask Mindy for the quickest wins for your situation.