Most buyers can get prequalified with a score somewhere between 580 and 620, depending on the loan program. The catch is that many lenders pull your credit with a hard inquiry just to tell you that, which can cost you points before you have even made an offer. Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, a mortgage broker serving buyers across VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, and MD, wrote this guide to answer the question directly: what mortgage credit score do I need to get prequalified?
Below you will find the score floor for each major loan type, how a NoTouch Credit Pull lets you check where you stand without a score cost, and what to fix first if your number falls short. Every floor here is a general guideline. Individual lenders set their own rules, and those rules change.
Minimum Credit Scores by Loan Program in 2026
There is no single mortgage credit score. Each loan program sets its own floor, and then each lender may add stricter rules on top. Those extra rules are called lender overlays, and they explain why two lenders can give different answers on the same score.
- FHA: Under HUD Handbook 4000.1, a score of 580 or higher generally qualifies for the 3.5% minimum down payment. Scores from 500 to 579 generally require 10% down. Many lenders set their own floor above 580, so the handbook number is a starting point, not a guarantee.
- Conventional: A 620 score has long been the standard floor under the Fannie Mae Selling Guide. As of this writing, Fannie Mae has been changing how its Desktop Underwriter (DU) system treats the minimum score for some loans. Confirm the current rule on Fannie Mae’s site, and expect many lenders to keep 620 as their own overlay regardless.
- VA: The VA home loan program does not set a minimum credit score. Individual lenders do, and they commonly land between 580 and 620. This is entirely lender-dependent.
- USDA: Loans through the USDA Guaranteed Loan Program usually need about 640 to qualify for streamlined automated approval. Lower scores may still be possible with manual review, at the lender’s discretion.
- Jumbo: Loans above the 2026 conforming limit of $806,500 (or $1,249,125 in designated high-cost counties) usually need 700 or higher. Again, this varies by lender and by how much you put down.
These programs work the same way whether you are buying in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Washington DC, the Carolinas, or Maryland. The federal program rules do not change at the state line, though lender appetite and local programs can.
One more detail matters. Programs generally use the middle of your three credit scores when more than one borrower is on the loan, often the lower of the two borrowers’ middle scores. A co-borrower with a weaker score can pull the whole application down a tier.
Why the Mortgage Credit Score You Need to Get Prequalified Is Really the Program’s Score
Prequalification is an estimate. You share your income, debts, assets, and a credit check, and a loan professional tells you roughly what you could borrow. Preapproval goes further: you submit verified documents such as pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements, and an underwriter reviews the file. Neither step has its own magic score. The floor belongs to the loan program you eventually apply for.
That changes the question. Instead of asking whether your score is good enough, you ask which loan matches your score. A soft pull mortgage pre-qualification shows a broker which programs fit your score band, so you can see your options before anything is submitted.
The 700 myth
Plenty of buyers believe they need a 700 or better just to start. The program floors above say otherwise: FHA starts at 580 for the standard low down payment, conventional commonly at 620, and VA and USDA in the 580 to 640 range depending on the lender. A higher score earns better pricing, but it is not an entry ticket.
Why a broker can matter when your score sits near a line
A retail lender can only offer its own guidelines. Duane Buziak is a mortgage broker who works with hundreds of wholesale lenders, and those lenders do not all apply the same overlays. A borrower at 600 who is turned away by one lender’s 620 overlay may fit another’s guidelines for the same loan program. That access is the practical reason to compare options before you decide you have been declined.
Duane Buziak is a Scotsman Guide Top Originator for 2026 and has earned more than 1,400 five-star reviews, but the point here is simpler: more guideline sets means more chances of a fit.
Hard Pull vs. Soft Pull: What Checking Your Score Can Cost You
A hard inquiry happens when a lender checks your credit because you applied for credit. A soft inquiry happens when your credit is checked for other reasons, such as checking your own score or a preliminary screening, and it does not count against you in scoring models. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) publishes consumer guidance on credit reports, scores, and inquiries. Consumer guidance commonly describes a single hard inquiry as costing a few points, with 5 to 10 points the figure often cited, and the effect varies with your credit profile. Hard inquiries stay on your report for two years. Check the CFPB’s current wording, since guidance gets updated.
Scoring models also have a rate-shopping provision: several mortgage inquiries within a short window are often counted as one. The length of that window depends on the scoring model, so verify it with the CFPB or myFICO before relying on it. Even then, inquiries from separate lenders can show up on your report and may affect how some lenders see you.
Many national lenders and retail banks run a hard pull at the prequalification stage. Structurally, companies such as Rocket Mortgage and Movement Mortgage operate as direct lenders, while Duane Buziak works as a broker. Duane’s NoTouch Credit Pull is a no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval path that uses a soft pull only, so you see your options without a mark on your report.
What a few points can cost: a worked illustration
Suppose a borrower is buying with a $300,000, 30-year conventional loan. These rates are hypothetical assumptions, not current quotes. Say a hard inquiry drops the score enough to move the borrower into a worse pricing tier, and the rate goes from 6.50% to 6.75%.
- At 6.50%, principal and interest is $1,896.20 per month.
- At 6.75%, it is $1,945.79 per month.
- The difference is $49.59 per month, or $17,852 over 360 months.
A tier change will not happen every time. Actual pricing tiers vary by lender, and a few points matter most when you sit right at a boundary. But that boundary is exactly where borrowers get hurt by an unnecessary pull.
Dare to Compare: NoTouch Credit Pull vs. a Typical National Lender vs. a Typical Bank
Duane Buziak invites you to Dare to Compare: line up programs and pricing from several sources before you commit, without stacking hard inquiries to do it. The table below describes general patterns across categories, not any named company. Practices vary, so confirm with each provider.
| Feature | Duane Buziak / NoTouch Credit Pull | Typical National Lender | Typical Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit pull type | Soft pull only | Often a hard pull | Often a hard pull |
| Score impact | None from the pre-qualification check | Typically a few points per hard inquiry | Typically a few points per hard inquiry |
| Time to pre-qual letter | Often quick once your details are in; depends on your information | Varies; often fast online | Varies; can take longer |
| Lender access | Hundreds of wholesale lenders through a broker | One company’s own programs | The bank’s own programs |
| FICO floor | Matched to the program and wholesale lender that fits your score | Set by that lender’s overlays | Often stricter overlays; varies |
One clarification on roles: Duane Buziak is a mortgage broker, not a lender or a bank. A broker shops your profile across wholesale lenders and presents the programs that fit, rather than selling you a single company’s products.
What to Do If Your Score Is Below the Cutoff
Falling short of a floor is usually fixable, and often faster than people expect. Work through these steps in order:
- Check your reports. Pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com and dispute anything that is wrong. Errors can suppress a score for no good reason.
- Lower revolving balances. Pay credit cards down below roughly 30% of their limits. Lower utilization is one of the quickest ways to gain points.
- Freeze new credit. Do not open accounts or finance a car before closing. New accounts add inquiries and lower your average account age.
- Pay everything on time. A single 30-day late payment can undo weeks of progress.
- Re-check in 30 to 60 days. Scores update as lenders report new balances, so give your changes time to show up.
Treat 580 for FHA and 620 for conventional as target markers. Crossing one can open a whole program. Some programs also reward higher bands, commonly 640, 680, and 740, with better pricing, though the exact breakpoints vary by lender, so verify them before you plan around them.
The FHA path for scores of 500 to 579 requires 10% down on paper. In practice, manual underwriting and lender overlays make it harder, and many lenders will not go that low at all. If you are in that range, improving the score first usually opens more doors.
Before you start any of this, find out where you actually stand. A mortgage pre-approval without hard pull, through a NoTouch Credit Pull, gives you a baseline with no score cost. Then re-check after your 30 to 60 days of work and see which programs have opened up.
Credit Score Prequalification FAQ
What is the minimum credit score to get prequalified?
There is no universal minimum for prequalification itself. The floor comes from the loan program: roughly 580 for FHA’s 3.5% down payment and commonly 620 for conventional loans. Lenders typically add their own overlays, so the practical minimum can be higher or lower depending on who reviews your file.
Can I get prequalified with a 580 score?
Often, yes, for an FHA loan. HUD guidelines generally allow 3.5% down at 580 or above. Whether a given lender accepts 580 depends on its overlays, so some will want 600 or higher. A broker with access to many wholesale lenders can check which ones fit that score.
Does mortgage prequalification hurt my credit?
It can if the lender runs a hard inquiry. According to CFPB consumer guidance, hard inquiries can lower your score slightly and stay on your report for two years. A NoTouch Credit Pull is a no credit impact mortgage pre-qual option that uses a soft pull instead.
What score do I need for a conventional loan?
Conventional loans have long used 620 as the standard floor under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines. As of this writing, Fannie Mae has been revising its DU requirements, and many lenders still apply 620 or higher as their own rule. Better pricing typically starts around 680 and improves further above 740.
What score does a VA loan need?
The VA does not set a minimum credit score. Each lender sets its own, commonly between 580 and 620, though some require more. Because the requirement is lender-dependent, comparing several lenders through a broker can matter more here than on any other program.
What score does USDA require?
USDA loans typically need about 640 for streamlined automated approval. Borrowers below that may still qualify through manual underwriting, but lenders often make this harder. Property location and household income limits also apply, so check eligibility on the USDA site before you plan around the program.
How long does a prequalification take?
It is often quick, sometimes the same day, once you have shared your income, debts, and credit information. Timing depends on how complete your details are and how fast the lender or broker responds. Preapproval takes longer because it requires verified documents and an underwriting review.
Is prequalification the same as preapproval?
No. Prequalification is an estimate based mostly on information you provide. Preapproval involves verified documents and an underwriter’s review, so it carries more weight with sellers. Many buyers start with prequalification to learn their options, then move to preapproval when they are ready to shop seriously.
Find Your Number Without Spending Points
The answer depends on the program: roughly 580 for FHA, commonly 620 for conventional, and lender-set floors for VA, USDA, and jumbo. You do not need a perfect score to start, and you should not have to lose points to learn where you stand. A NoTouch Credit Pull lets you find your number first.
Ready to see which program fits? Get your free mortgage prequalification today and discover exactly what you can afford, with no obligation and no cost. Work with award-winning Mortgage Maestro Duane Buziak and benefit from expert guidance, industry connections, and potential savings on your home loan. Call Free Prequals by Duane Buziak at 804-212-8663.