600 Credit Score: Can I Buy a House? (2026)

Which purchase loans fit a 600 credit score?

Loan type	Score-based outlook	Down payment	Other conditions
FHA	Eligible under FHA score rules	3.5%	HUD permits 96.5% LTV at 580+. Income, debt, appraisal and lender overlays still determine approval.
VA	Possible with a matching lender	No down payment may be available	VA sets no minimum score. Lender overlays often fall around 580–640; Certificate of Eligibility, residual income and satisfactory credit history are required.
Conventional	Unlikely with common lender overlays	3%	620 is a common lender benchmark, not a universal cutoff. Fannie Mae DU removed its 620 minimum for new casefiles from November 16, 2025 and uses a credit-risk assessment. Eligible 97% LTV programs have borrower and property restrictions.
USDA	Possible; lender/manual review needed	No down payment may be available	USDA has no universal program minimum. 640 is a common lender/GUS benchmark, not automatic approval; rural location, household income and credit history must qualify.
Jumbo	Unlikely with typical jumbo overlays	20% illustration, lender-set	Jumbo is lender-defined. Scores around 700+ and substantial reserves/down payments are common, not universal program requirements. Compare written lender criteria.

What could a 600 score mean for rates and PMI?

FHA score rules may fit, but conventional options and PMI quotes can be less favorable. Reducing revolving balances may broaden lender access. We have no verified score-specific rate spread or insurer quote for your file, so none is invented here. Credit models, LTV, debt ratios, occupancy, points and the rate lock can all change pricing.

Freddie Mac describes PMI as roughly $30–$70 monthly per $100,000 borrowed. That is an educational range, not a price band assigned to your 600 score. FHA mortgage insurance follows the HUD loan-amount/LTV schedule rather than a credit-score surcharge.

How does the FHA down-payment rule change at this score?

At 600, HUD’s score rule permits up to 96.5% LTV, requiring 3.5% down. For a $350,000 comparison home, cash down is $12,250, the base mortgage is $337,750, and financed upfront MIP is $5,911. At the common market-average rate the initial all-in illustration is $2,942/month. This is a nationally weighted tax/insurance comparison, not a 600-score offer; county FHA limits and lender approval apply.

Rate assumption: 7.18% (Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year fixed average, week of November 5, 2026). Change it in the payment calculator.

The $350,000 comparison price is the supported price step closest to our population-weighted state ACS values, not a measured national home median. Tax is 1.064% yearly, insurance is $1,790/year, the term is 30 years, and annual FHA MIP is 0.55% initially. At less than 10% down, annual MIP generally lasts the loan term. HOA and other debt are excluded.

What should I improve before a mortgage application?

Review your credit reports and dispute inaccurate late payments, balances or accounts with the reporting bureau.
Pay every account on time. If an account is past due, discuss how to bring it current before shopping.
Reduce revolving balances without taking on replacement debt; ask a loan officer which changes matter to your file.
Avoid new credit applications, large financed purchases and closing established accounts immediately before closing.
Compare lender overlays in writing. Ask lenders about FHA access and whether automated conventional underwriting can assess your file.

Improvement timing depends on reported information and scoring models. We do not promise a points increase or approve a loan, and are not a lender.

Compare purchase requirements

FHA requirements FHA purchase guide VA requirements VA purchase guide Conventional requirements Conventional purchase guide USDA requirements USDA purchase guide Jumbo requirements Jumbo purchase guide

Compare 600 by loan type

FHA VA CONVENTIONAL USDA JUMBO

Compare nearby scores and home costs

540 score 560 score 580 score 620 score 640 score 660 score All credit scores $350,000 home costs

Frequently asked questions

FHA permits 3.5% down under its score rules. That does not require a lender to approve the file. VA and USDA set no universal minimum, while conventional automated underwriting and private jumbo lenders use their own credit criteria.

FHA score rules may fit, but conventional options and PMI quotes can be less favorable. Reducing revolving balances may broaden lender access. We do not assign an invented score-based rate increase or PMI rate. PMMS is a market average, not a quote for this score. Obtain matching Loan Estimates and an insurer/lender PMI quote.

Review all three credit reports for errors, dispute inaccurate information, pay every bill on time, reduce revolving balances and avoid new accounts before closing. Do not close older accounts or pay a credit-repair company without understanding the consequences. Improvement timing depends on your actual credit file.

Not necessarily. Mortgage lenders can use different scoring models and bureau reports. Ask which score/model is used, whether joint applicants change the qualifying score, and what other underwriting conditions apply.

Sources

Data last updated November 5, 2026.

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Figures on this page are estimates for educational purposes only and are not a loan offer or commitment to lend. Rates, loan limits, fees and assistance programs change frequently and vary by lender, location and borrower profile. Confirm current terms with a licensed loan officer.