4 FAQs on FHA Programs with Low Credit Scores in Houston, TX

Your credit score is one of the fundamental factors that can ensure whether you can get a home loan approval or not. While conventional loans need a higher credit score, for an FHA loan, the requirement is much lenient. You can get approval for an FHA loan even with a low credit score.

However, as the FHA is only the guarantor, not the lender, and the loan is approved by FHA lenders, the credit score requirements may vary from lenders to lenders. While a lender asks for a higher score, another one may ask for a lower score. But you can fulfill your dream of homeownership with First Time Home Buyer programs with low credit scores in Houston, TX. Do you have questions regarding this loan? Check out the following questions and answers -

• What is the required credit score to buy a house with an FHA loan?

The FHA does not mention any credit score to get approval for this home loan program. But most FHA loans generally require your FICO score to be at least 500 to 580. The actual numbers required are often considered jointly with what percentage of the home’s value is included in the down payment. However, you should keep this in mind that the minimum requirement is around 500, and the higher the score the better it would be for you.

• Can I get a home loan approval with a 500 credit score?

Technically, it is possible, as there is no low instructing a minimum credit score required to opt for a home loan program. Generally, a lender can offer loans at their discretion, no matter the credit history of the borrower. Unlike other conventional home loan programs, FHA loans can be approved only with 500 credit scores, but it depends on the mortgage lenders – whether they are ready to approve it or not. But most FHA loans given to borrowers with a credit score of 500 require a 10% down payment.

• Which FICO score do mortgage lenders use?

Most lenders check the creditworthiness of a borrower based on his or her FICO credit score. Developed by Fair, Isaac, and Company, a FICO score is a credit scoring and risk analysis system that quickly became a fixture of consumer lending upon its formation in 1956. FICO scores have diverse names at each of the three major United States credit reporting companies including Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. These three are most commonly referred to when a mortgage lender is determining whether to provide you with an FHA loan or not.

• Can I improve my credit score? How?

Yes, you can improve it. Credit scores are the results of various variables, such as payment history, credit utilization, credit mixture, and length of credit history. Some of these are calculated quickly while others can require weeks or months to accurately compute. So, there is no accurate way to calculate how long or short it will take to earn a better credit score. But you can begin by focusing on accruing a history of consistent payments that is the most influential factor in a credit score.

You get the answers to most of your questions. Do you have any more queries? Ask an FHA-approved lender and once your queries are resolved, apply for the loan today!