The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home
The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home Your credit score plays a big role in the homebuying process. It’s one of the key factors lenders look at to determine which loan options you qualify for and what your terms might be. But there’s a myth about credit scores that may be holding some buyers back. The Myth: You Need To Have Perfect Credit According to Fannie Mae , only 32% of potential homebuyers have a good idea of what credit score lenders actually require. That means two-thirds of buyers don’t actually know what lenders are looking for – and most overestimate the minimum credit score needed. The Reality: Perfect Isn’t Necessary But the truth is, you don’t need perfect credit to become a homeowner . To see the average score, by loan type, for recent homebuyers check out the graph below: There is no set cut-off score across the board. As FICO explains : “While many len...