To buy a house in 2026, you generally need a credit score between depending on the loan type, but a score of 780 or higher is currently the "sweet spot" for securing the best interest rates.
While some major entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have moved toward more holistic risk assessments rather than strict minimum score thresholds, individual lenders still set their own requirements. Minimum Credit Requirements by Loan Type how much credit do i need to buy a house