If You Have Bad Credit Can You Buy A House May 2026

For veterans and service members. There is often no minimum score required by the government (though lenders usually look for 580–620).

Get your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute any errors immediately. if you have bad credit can you buy a house

Showing you have 3–6 months of mortgage payments in savings after the house closes builds trust. For veterans and service members

Private Mortgage Insurance (or MIP for FHA) is often more expensive for those with lower scores. 📋 Recommended Next Steps Showing you have 3–6 months of mortgage payments

Unlike a single bank, a broker works with many lenders and knows which ones are "low-credit friendly."

Do not open new credit cards or take out an auto loan while you are preparing to buy.

If your score is below 620, traditional "Conventional" loans may be out of reach, but these options can help: