600 Credit Score Mortgage
A 600 already clears the FHA 3.5%-down mark. The next question is whether to reach for conventional at 620.
By Onias Derilus, Mortgage Capital · NMLS# 1859012 · Last Updated: June 2026
A 600 credit score is past the hardest break. FHA at 3.5% down is comfortably open, so you can buy now. The decision at 600 is different from the lower scores: it is whether to push the last 20 points to 620, where conventional financing and cancelable mortgage insurance become options.
What 600 Already Unlocks
At 600 you are above the 580 FHA threshold, so the 3.5% down payment is available and lender overlays ease. You can pair FHA with Florida down payment assistance to cut cash to close.
Conventional still needs 620 and USDA 640, so they are just out of reach. The gap is small, which makes 600 a genuine decision point rather than a waiting room.
| Loan Type | Min Score | Your Position at 600 |
|---|---|---|
| FHA | 580 (3.5% down) | Open — 3.5% down available |
| VA | 580 typical | Open if eligible |
| Conventional | 620 | Not yet — 20 points away |
| USDA | 640 typical | Not yet — 40 points away |
Buy on FHA, or Reach for 620
If you are ready now, FHA at 600 works well. The trade-off is FHA mortgage insurance, which generally runs the life of the loan. If you can climb 20 points to 620, conventional opens up and its PMI can be canceled at 20% equity.
We price both paths. Sometimes buying now on FHA and refinancing later is the right call; sometimes the 20-point push to 620 saves more. The answer depends on your timeline and how close 620 really is.
What each loan program does at 600
A score does not qualify you on its own. It opens some programs, closes others, and changes the terms on the ones in between. Here is where a 600 lands on each program we write in Florida, with the detail behind every verdict a click away.
FHA Loan at 600: Comfortable — FHA is your lane.
VA Loan at 600: Comfortable VA approval.
Conventional Loan at 600: Almost — 20 points from eligible.
Jumbo Loan at 600: Not yet — conventional opens first.
Refinance at 600: FHA refi solid; conventional 20 points off.
Two things move these verdicts more than the score itself. The first is the lender, because most set their own floor above the program minimum and a file one lender declines can be straightforward at the next. The second is the rest of the file: steady income, a clean recent payment history, and cash left after closing will carry a borderline score further than a few extra points would.
600 Credit Score Mortgage: FAQ
Yes. At 600 you clear the 580 FHA threshold, so a 3.5% down FHA loan is available and you can layer down payment assistance. Conventional opens 20 points higher at 620.
It depends. Conventional at 620 offers cancelable PMI, unlike FHA. If 620 is a short climb, the savings can be worth it. If you need to move now, FHA at 600 is a solid option you can refinance later.
At 600 only FHA is available, since conventional starts at 620. FHA at 3.5% down is the route now, with conventional as a refinance target once your score and equity grow.
Verify the details for your own situation against these government and agency sources: HUD FHA loan program and HUD Handbook 4000.1 (FHA rules).
Buying With a 600 Credit Score?
Get matched to the right Florida loan for your score · Licensed FL mortgage broker NMLS# 1859012
Rates are illustrative only. APR and payments vary by credit score, loan amount, and market conditions. Subject to credit approval. Not a commitment to lend. NMLS# 1859012. Equal Housing Lender.