What credit score do you need to buy a house in Arizona? It depends on the loan. FHA allows maximum financing at 580, and scores from 500 to 579 can qualify with 10% down (a 90% loan-to-value cap). Arizona's HOME+Plus down payment program requires a 620 FICO. Fannie Mae requires 620 for manually underwritten fixed-rate loans, but no set minimum when a loan is run through its automated Desktop Underwriter (DU).
Is there one Arizona number? No. Arizona doesn't set its own minimum; the loan program and the lender do. Lenders can add stricter rules, called overlays, so the same score can get different answers from different lenders.
Data note: Thresholds come from HUD Mortgagee Letter 2026-11 (Oct. 8, 2026), the Fannie Mae Selling Guide section B3-5.1-01 (published Oct. 7, 2026), VA's purchase loan page and the Arizona HOME+Plus Program Summary (V04062026b). No rate quotes or market statistics are included.
Minimum Credit Scores at a Glance
- FHA, maximum financing: 580+
- FHA, 90% LTV cap: 500–579
- FHA: below 500 not eligible
- Arizona HOME+Plus: 620 minimum FICO
- Fannie Mae, manual underwriting: 620 fixed-rate, 640 ARMs
- Fannie Mae, DU: no minimum score; DU weighs the full file
- VA: no published VA minimum; lender standards apply
FHA Loans
The Thresholds
HUD's Mortgagee Letter 2026-11 keeps FHA's minimum decision credit score rules in place:
- 580 or higher: eligible for maximum financing
- 500 to 579: limited to a maximum 90% loan-to-value
- Below 500: not eligible
What's Changing in 2027
For case numbers assigned on or after Jan. 1, 2027, FHA lenders may use FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 in addition to Classic FICO. FHA still requires a tri-merge credit report, and the thresholds don't change.
Conventional Loans (Fannie Mae)
Automated Underwriting
Fannie Mae's Selling Guide says a minimum credit score is not required for DU loan casefiles. DU looks at the whole risk picture instead: income, assets, debts and credit history.
Manual Underwriting
Loans underwritten by hand still need a 620 score for fixed-rate loans and 640 for adjustable-rate loans.
Score Models
The models approved by the Federal Housing Finance Agency are Classic FICO, VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T, and Fannie Mae is phasing them in.
A higher score still matters on conventional loans. It affects pricing, and Fannie Mae's guide includes loan-level price adjustments based on credit score.
VA Loans
VA's purchase-loan page says borrowers must meet "our—and your lender's—standards for credit, income, and any other requirements." It doesn't list a single VA minimum score, so lenders set their own. VA loans can mean no down payment when the price doesn't exceed the appraised value, and no PMI.
Buying With No Money Down
Of the programs above, the VA loan is the true zero-down option for eligible veterans and service members, and the credit bar is whatever your lender sets. For everyone else, "no money down" usually means pairing a low-down loan with down payment assistance, which brings program minimums like HOME+Plus's 620 into play.
Arizona Down Payment Help
Arizona's HOME+Plus program pairs a first mortgage with down payment assistance, and its program summary lists a 620 minimum FICO. For the full rundown, read our Arizona first-time home buyer programs guide.
“The number I care about most isn't the minimum; it's the score you'll have on the day we write an offer. I've watched buyers gain real pricing by waiting a month to pay down a card or fix a reporting error. Talk to a lender before you shop, not after you fall for a house.”
— Elizabeth Vijan, Tackett Team, eXp Realty
How to Prepare
- Pull your reports and dispute errors early
- Pay down revolving balances before you apply
- Avoid new credit between preapproval and closing
- Compare lenders, since overlays differ
- Plan for PMI on low-down conventional loans; see how to remove PMI
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum credit score to buy a house in Arizona?
580 for FHA maximum financing, 620 for HOME+Plus, and no set minimum on Fannie Mae DU loans.
What credit score do I need for an FHA loan?
580+ for maximum financing; 500–579 at 90% LTV.
What credit score do I need for a VA loan?
VA publishes no single minimum; lenders set standards.
Can I buy a house with a 600 credit score in Arizona?
Possibly, with FHA. It's below 620 for HOME+Plus.
Ready to Find Out What You Qualify For?
I'll connect you with trusted local lenders and map out a plan from preapproval to keys in Scottsdale or Phoenix.
Elizabeth Vijan | Tackett Team, eXp Realty
Scottsdale & Phoenix Real Estate
Let's Talk · Call or text 602-885-7752
Sources: HUD Mortgagee Letter 2026-11: Credit Score Methodology · Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-01: Credit Scores · VA: Purchase Loan · Arizona HOME+Plus Program
Disclaimer: General information, not lending advice. Loan programs and lender requirements change. Talk to a licensed loan officer about your situation. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Tackett Team, eXp Realty · Get in touch