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An FHA loan is your main path at this score — with 10% down instead of the usual 3.5%. The calculator below is prefilled with an estimated rate for this score range. Adjust anything.
Compare rates and get pre-approved. Shopping multiple lenders can save tens of thousands over the life of a loan.
For educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Actual loan approval depends on credit score, employment history, and lender criteria. Consult a mortgage professional before making home buying decisions.
Yes — you can still buy a house with a 560 credit score, but your options narrow to essentially one program: FHA. The FHA insures loans down to a 500 score, but between 500 and 579 it requires at least 10% down instead of the usual 3.5%. Conventional lenders won't consider applications below 620 at all.
The bigger obstacle is lender overlays. Even though FHA rules allow a 560 score, many individual lenders set their own minimum at 580 or 620. Expect to shop harder — smaller banks, credit unions, and FHA-specialist mortgage brokers approve in this range far more often than big national lenders.
If you're a veteran, VA loans have no official minimum score, though most VA lenders want at least 580. USDA loans typically need 640 for automated approval. For everyone else, FHA with 10% down is the realistic route at this score.
Take a buyer earning $85,000 a year, with $400/month in existing debt and $25,000 saved for a down payment, on a 30-year loan:
| Estimated rate at a 560 score | 7.35% |
| Max home price (bank approval estimate) | $246,000 |
| Estimated monthly payment (P&I + tax + insurance) | $1,980/mo |
| Same buyer with a 760+ score | $257,000 |
| Buying power cost of a 560 score | −$11,000 |
Keep FHA's 10% floor in mind: with $25,000 down, this buyer can't purchase above $250,000 no matter what their income supports — below 580, your down payment sets a hard price ceiling. Every extra dollar you save raises that ceiling by ten. Also budget for FHA mortgage insurance: 1.75% upfront plus about 0.55% per year — roughly $101/month extra on this loan, not included in the payment above.
At a 600 score (estimated 7.15%), the same buyer could afford about $249,000 — $3,000 more house for the same income and monthly budget. The single highest-value move is getting to 580 — it cuts your required down payment from 10% to 3.5%. Fastest levers: dispute any errors on your reports, get current on every account, and pay revolving balances below 30% of their limits. Recent history counts most, so 6–12 clean months moves the needle.
Rules and pricing change at 580, 620, 640, and every 20 points beyond. Pick your exact score, or use the main affordability calculator if credit isn't your constraint: