What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House in Texas?

The short answer

There is no single "Texas credit score" to buy a house — the bar is set by the loan program, not the state. The most common minimums Texas lenders work with are: FHA from 580 (or 500–579 with a larger down payment), conventional around 620, and VA and USDA loans with no government-set minimum but lender expectations near 620–640. The higher your score, the lower the interest rate you're likely to be offered — which is where the real money is.

Minimum credit scores by loan type

FHA loan: 580+ qualifies for the 3.5% down-payment program. Scores of 500–579 may still qualify with 10% down. FHA is the most common path for first-time and credit-challenged buyers.
Conventional loan: typically 620 minimum, though the best rates and lowest mortgage-insurance costs usually start around 680–740.
VA loan (veterans/service members): the VA sets no minimum, but most lenders look for roughly 620.
USDA loan (rural/eligible areas): no official minimum, with most lenders wanting about 640.

Your score is only part of the picture

Lenders don't approve a number — they approve a borrower. Alongside your score they weigh your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio (your monthly debts vs. income), your down payment, your income and job stability, and your recent payment history. In Texas, property taxes run higher than the national average, which raises your monthly housing cost and can affect the DTI a lender will accept — so a strong score with high existing debt can still be a hard approval.

If your score isn't there yet

You have real options, and none of them involve a guarantee — here's the full step-by-step guide to fixing your credit to buy a house. Lower your utilization — paying card balances below 30% (ideally under 10%) of their limits is often the fastest legitimate lever. Don't open new debt in the months before applying. Keep every payment on time, since payment history is the largest scoring factor. And make sure your report is accurate: under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA §611), you can dispute items that appear inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, and the bureaus must investigate. You can't remove accurate information — but you shouldn't be judged on errors, either.

Getting mortgage-ready with Clean Path Credit

We audit all three of your credit reports, dispute items that appear inaccurate or unverifiable under the FCRA, and help you build the habits lenders reward — with no promises about a specific score or date (that would violate federal law). If you're preparing to buy in Texas, that's exactly the file we help you build. See how it works, our San Antonio credit repair page, or know your protections first with your credit repair rights in Texas.