The minimum credit score depends on your loan type: 620 for a conventional loan, 580 for an FHA loan with 3.5% down (or as low as 500 with 10% down), and generally 620-640 for VA and USDA loans, even though neither program sets an official government minimum. These are program floors, not lender floors — many lenders add their own overlay 20-40 points above the program minimum, so a 580 FICO score that technically qualifies for FHA on paper may still get turned away by a specific lender who requires 620 in practice.
What's the Minimum Score for Each Loan Type?
Conventional loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac generally require a 620 minimum, though most lenders treat 640 as the practical floor in 2026. FHA loans allow a 580 score with 3.5% down, or a 500 score with a 10% down payment. VA loans have no government-mandated minimum at all, but most lenders apply their own requirement in the 580-620 range. USDA loans typically require around 640 for automated underwriting approval, though manual underwriting with compensating factors can sometimes work with a lower score.
Why Would My Score Qualify Me on Paper But Still Get Rejected?
This is the detail that surprises the most buyers. Program minimums set by FHA, VA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac are the absolute floor — they don't obligate any individual lender to approve you at that score. Lenders routinely apply "overlays," their own stricter internal requirements, often 20-40 points above the program minimum, because they're the ones holding the actual default risk. This is exactly why getting rejected by one lender doesn't mean you're rejected everywhere — a second or third lender with softer overlays can sometimes approve the same file.
How Much Does My Credit Score Actually Affect My Rate?
Qualifying is only the first hurdle — your score also directly shapes the interest rate you're offered, which compounds into real money over a 30-year loan. On a comparable loan amount, moving from a 620 score up into the 740+ range can mean a meaningfully lower rate, and various lender estimates put the total interest savings from improving a score from the low 600s to the mid 700s before applying in the tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. In practice, a buyer with a 650 score and a buyer with a 750 score on the identical home can end up with very different total costs, even with an identical loan type and down payment.
What Counts as a "Good" Score to Buy a House?
Mid-600s and above is generally considered the range where you have access to the widest set of loan programs, the strongest pricing, and eligibility for state and local down payment assistance programs like Nevada's Home Is Possible. A score in the 740+ range typically unlocks the most competitive rates available. Scores below 620 still have real paths to homeownership through FHA — it's simply a narrower set of options with fewer lenders willing to work with you and generally higher costs.
Minimum Credit Scores by Loan Type
Loan Type | Official Program Minimum | Typical Lender Overlay in Practice |
|---|---|---|
Conventional | 620 | 640+ in practice at most lenders |
FHA | 580 (3.5% down) / 500 (10% down) | Some lenders require 620 even though 580 is technically allowed |
VA | No official minimum | Most lenders require 580-620 |
USDA | No official minimum | Typically ~640 for automated approval |
Jumbo | No official minimum | Generally 700-720+ |
Local Context: Credit Scores and Nevada's Home Is Possible Program
Nevada's Home Is Possible down payment assistance program generally requires a minimum credit score around 640, which lines up closely with where conventional and USDA lending already sits in practice. If your score is currently below that threshold, the more immediate path in the Las Vegas market is often an FHA loan at 580+ while you work on improving your score, then potentially refinancing into a conventional loan once you clear 620-640 and can drop mortgage insurance. Given how competitive well-priced homes in areas like Summerlin and Henderson can still be, a stronger score also means a stronger pre-approval letter — which matters when a seller is comparing multiple offers.
Related Reading
Our guide to current mortgage options for buying in Las Vegas covers conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and Home Is Possible in more depth, and our breakdown of typical closing costs shows how your loan type and down payment affect what you'll actually pay at the table.
This post reflects general lending information as of publication and is not a commitment to lend or financial advice. Credit score requirements, lender overlays, and program guidelines change over time and vary by lender — verify current requirements with a licensed lender. Speak with Sherwyn or Ferguz Colonia for guidance specific to your situation.
Sherwyn Colonia, NVRE License #S.185645 | Ferguz Colonia, NVRE License #S.199036 FIV Realty | (702) 234-5985 | thecoloniateam.com This is not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale. Equal Housing Opportunity. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. We are committed to compliance with the Fair Housing Act and the Nevada Real Estate Division's licensing and advertising regulations. Sherwyn and Ferguz Colonia work with lenders across a range of credit profiles, connecting buyers with the right loan program and lender overlay for their specific score and situation.
