Guide · Credit · 2 min read
Credit Basics
How credit shows up in a mortgage conversation, without a score cutoff.
Credit is a record of how debts have been handled. A mortgage review looks at that record along with income, savings, and the home. This site does not print a minimum score.
A conversation with a loan officer does not, by itself, change your credit. A credit check that you agree to can show on the report. Ask before anyone runs one.
A different measure is . It compares monthly bills with monthly income. A strong score does not erase a payment that does not fit the income, and a fair score does not end the conversation by itself.
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What a Lender Is Actually Reading
A credit report lists accounts, payment history, balances, and how long the accounts have been open. A score compresses that history into a number. Mortgage lenders often use a score built for home loans, which can differ from the score you see in a banking app.
A loan officer can tell you how your report reads for the program you are considering. Fair credit does not end the conversation by itself. A high score does not approve a loan if the payment does not fit the income.
Three habits matter more than a last-minute trick. Pay the accounts you already have, on time. Do not open a new loan or a new card while a mortgage file is in review. Do not move large sums of money without a paper trail. A new debt or an unexplained deposit can stall underwriting.
If something on the report is wrong, dispute it with the bureau that published it. Bring the corrected report, not a screenshot from an app, when you talk with a loan officer. You can order the official reports from Annual Credit Report. The link is on the resources page.
Keep Reading
Costs
What Closing Costs Cover
What the cash due at the end of the loan is usually for, without a sample fee sheet.
Process
Document Checklist
From getting your money ready to picking up the keys. Check off each step as you go.
Buying
First-Time Buyer Roadmap
The steps from "we might buy" to keys, in the order most people meet them.
A Real Conversation
Ready When You Are.
Talk with a loan officer who is licensed where the home is. Walk through buying, refinancing, or a loan that does not fit a standard file. Start with the directory, or answer a few questions first.