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FHA advises prospective homebuyers to approach FHA loans with their best possible credit history to eliminate any potential risk of not qualifying.

FHA Loan Programs for 2023

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NOTICE: Some FHA mortgage lenders are substantially raising FICO score requirements during the Coronavirus crisis, even though FHA minimums remain unchanged.


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FHA.com is a privately owned website, is not a government agency, and does not make loans.

FHA Loan Tips for Improving Credit

Track Your Credit Score and Stay on Top of Problems

FICO Scores Influence How Much FHA Down Payment Is Required

While FHA loans are known as a great service for people looking for help buying a house, applicants can make the process even easier if they take steps toward ensuring their credit history is in tip-top shape. The agency advises prospective homebuyers to approach FHA loans with their best possible credit history to eliminate any potential risk of not qualifying.

Whether you're looking for a loan to mortgage a new house or to refinance a house you already own, it makes the most sense open up all your options with an optimal credit rating. The FHA recommends having a satisfactory payment history of at least one year before applying for a loan.

Credit Tips for Your FHA Loan

Here are some tips to help you on your way:

  • Take a Close Look at Your Credit Reports
    You don't know what could be hurting your credit score unless you actually check. Get your credit reports from the three national credit bureaus--Experian, Equifax and TransUnion--at no cost and comb them over for anything suspicious or questionable.
  • Dispute Inaccuracies
    If you find errors on your credit report, notify the reporting bureau in writing so you have a record. Provide any additional records or evidence you have to support your dispute.
  • Find Professional Help
    The FHA recommends applicants with credit problems get help from a Consumer Credit Counseling program. A credit counselor can help you get back on track.
  • Bankruptcy / Foreclosure
    If you've suffered from a bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past few years, you might still be able to qualify for an FHA loan. Develop a satisfactory payment history, re-establish good credit and meet the other FHA requirements.

While your credit history is just one of the many factors that make up your eligibility for an FHA loan, it is no doubt one of the most important. Having a higher score not only helps you qualify, you can also benefit from the low 3.5 percent down payment on mortgage loans available to applicants with a FICO score over 580. FHA approved lenders don't take your credit history lightly, and neither should you.

Credit Scores for FHA Loans

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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News

FHA Purchase Loans: Buying a House in a Tough Market

March 18, 2023 - Some potential borrowers are confused by the economic reports from other sectors, wondering why in a time of inflation, people are spending money on travel and dining out even as they contemplate whether or not to buy a home this year.

What to Do When Mortgage Rates Are Rising

March 13, 2023 - Many believe that the Fed’s ongoing efforts to tame inflation are squarely to blame for the rise in mortgage rates. The Fed does not actively set mortgage loan interest rates, but those rates are affected by Fed actions such as increasing the costs of lending money.

FHA Loan Approval: Why Credit History Matters

March 7, 2023 - It’s easy to assume that FICO scores are a lender's number one factor in approving a home loan. But FICO scores are just one factor the lender considers, along with your debt ratio, verifiable income, and employment history.

FHA Home Loan Approval and Your Annual Income

March 5, 2023 - What does it take to be approved for an FHA home loan? Your participating lender will review your FICO scores, debt repayment history, and how effectively you use your credit. But one important factor in FHA loan approval not mentioned above? Your annual income.

FHA Loans and Rising Mortgage Rates In 2023

March 1, 2023 - In late February 2023, CNN.com reported mortgage rates had risen for the third week in a row, putting interest rate averages squarely in the mid-six percent range. CNN reports that a year prior, the fixed interest rate on a 30-year mortgage was closer to 4%.