Can I buy a house with a 718 credit score?
For one thing, you're unlikely to qualify for a lender's best mortgage rates. Lenders typically reserve their top rates for borrowers with very good or exceptional credit scores. However, with a 718 credit score, you should qualify for rates on-par with national averages.
You can borrow over $100,000 with a 780 credit score if you get a mortgage or a home equity loan. Keep in mind, the exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors in addition to your credit score, such as your income, your employment status and even the lender.
For a conventional mortgage in California, you typically need a minimum score of at least 600. If you qualify for certain government-backed loans, however, you may be able to buy a home with a score as low as 500. Read on to learn about credit scores and how they affect your ability to make a home purchase.
In case of a $300,000 home, that translates to a down payment of $9,000, which is the lowest possible unless you qualify for a zero-down-payment VA or USDA loan. A 620 credit score is typically required, but lenders might have different rules.
A FICO® Score of 718 provides access to a broad array of loans and credit card products, but increasing your score can increase your odds of approval for an even greater number, at more affordable lending terms.
Some types of mortgages have specific minimum credit score requirements. A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.
APR range | Minimum credit score requirement | |
---|---|---|
Best Egg | 8.99%-35.99% | 600 |
LightStream | 7.99% to 25.49%* with Autopay | 695 |
Upgrade | 8.49%-35.99% | 600 |
SoFi | 8.99%-29.99% | 680 |
A 780 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.
While any score above 700 tends to be considered "good," an elite group of people have excellent scores that will snag them the most favorable rates. Only about 20% of Americans that have a credit score land above the 780 mark, which is considered the top tier, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion.
If you have poor credit, consider an FHA loan, which allows for credit scores as low as 580 (or 500 if you can make a 10 percent down payment on the home). If you're eligible, a VA loan (for service members and veterans) or a USDA loan (for buyers in rural areas) might also be easier to qualify for.
What is the easiest mortgage to get?
An FHA mortgage is usually the easiest home loan to get. You can qualify with a credit score as low as 580 (with a 3.5% down payment) or even 500 (with a 10% down payment).
While most lenders use the FICO Score 8, mortgage lenders use the following scores: Experian: FICO Score 2, or Fair Isaac Risk Model v2. Equifax: FICO Score 5, or Equifax Beacon 5. TransUnion: FICO Score 4, or TransUnion FICO Risk Score 04.
What income is required for a 200k mortgage? To be approved for a $200,000 mortgage with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, you will need an approximate income of $62,000 annually.
So, to estimate the salary you'll need to comfortably afford a $300,000 home purchase, multiply the annual total of $24,000 by three. That leaves us with a recommended income of $72,000. (Keep in mind that this does not include a down payment or closing costs.)
Most lenders are looking for 20% down payments. That's $60,000 on a $300,000 home. With 20% down, you'll have a better chance of getting approved for a loan.
Generally speaking, a good credit score is between 690 and 719 in the commonly used 300-850 credit score range. Scores 720 and above are considered excellent, while scores 630 to 689 are considered fair. Scores below 630 fall into the bad credit range.
On the FICO scale, which ranges from 300 to 850, a score of 718 falls under the “good” credit category. This news may come as a surprise, given high prices, rising interest rates and U.S. credit card debt topping $1 trillion in August.
In the U.S., the average credit score is 716, per Experian's latest data from the second quarter of 2023. And when you break down the average credit score by age, the typical American is hovering near or above that score.
For most loan types, the credit score needed to buy a house is at least 620.
Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.
How do I know if I qualify for FHA loan?
- FICO® score at least 580 = 3.5% down payment.
- FICO® score between 500 and 579 = 10% down payment.
- MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium ) is required.
- Debt-to-Income Ratio < 43%.
- The home must be the borrower's primary residence.
- Borrower must have steady income and proof of employment.
For example, suppose you secure a 30-year fixed $300K mortgage at 4.5% APR. In this case, the monthly payment would be $1,520. On the other hand, if you have a 15-year fixed $300K mortgage at 4% APR, the monthly payment would be $2,219.
Loan Amount | Loan Term (Years) | Estimated Fixed Monthly Payment* |
---|---|---|
$25,000 | 3 | $771.81 |
$25,000 | 5 | $518.84 |
$30,000 | 3 | $926.18 |
$30,000 | 5 | $622.61 |
The monthly payment on a $30,000 loan ranges from $410 to $3,014, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $30,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $3,014.
Conventional lenders now require a 780 credit score or higher to qualify for the lowest mortgage interest rates, so anything above 780 is considered an excellent score to buy a house. Armed with this score, you can secure a more affordable monthly payment and have more buying power when making purchase offers.
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