760+ - Excellent
Best rates, widest lender choice. Every A-lender is available to you.
Your credit score - and what lenders actually look at.
Your score is one piece of a bigger picture. Here's where the thresholds actually sit, what else lenders look at beyond the number, and what to do - and not do - in the months before you apply.
These aren't hard cutoffs - lenders look at the full picture. But score range is the fastest predictor of which lenders are available to you.
Best rates, widest lender choice. Every A-lender is available to you.
Strong position. All major lenders available, competitive rates, minimal conditions.
Most A-lenders still available. Some may require a larger down payment or add conditions.
A-lenders become limited. B-lenders and credit unions are the main options, rates typically 1–2% above prime.
Private lenders only, significantly higher rates. Usually a 12–18 month plan to repair the score and transition to a B or A lender.
In rough order of impact. Most people can make meaningful improvement in 6–12 months.
Payment history is the single largest factor in your credit score (roughly 35%). One missed payment can drop your score 50–100 points and stays on your report for 6 years.
Credit utilization is the second biggest factor. A $10,000 limit card should carry under $3,000.
Length of credit history matters. A 10-year-old credit card with a zero balance is helping your score, even if you don't use it.
Every hard credit inquiry temporarily lowers your score by 5–10 points and stays on your report for 3 years.
Request a free copy from Equifax and TransUnion. Errors are more common than you'd think and can be disputed.
Once pre-approved and shopping, your financial picture needs to stay frozen - lenders re-verify credit and employment right before funding. Any of the following can trigger a re-review or kill a deal days before closing:
“I'll never run your credit until we both agree it's time. A score below 640 isn't a no - it might just be a 'not yet.' Knowing where you stand costs nothing.”- Jeremy LaHaie
Credit is one of the most misunderstood pieces of the mortgage puzzle. People either obsess over it or ignore it entirely - both approaches cause problems.
Your credit score matters, but it's not the whole story. Lenders look at income stability, debt load, down payment, and employment history alongside your score.
If your score needs work, I'll give you a specific, realistic plan - which accounts to pay down first, whether it's worth disputing anything on your bureau, and how long it'll realistically take.
And if you're already in a good range, I'll tell you what to leave alone.
640 is the practical floor for most A-lenders. Above 680 you're in strong territory. Below 640, B-lenders and credit unions; below 600, private lenders and a repair plan.
No. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry with zero impact. I'll always do a soft check first before we agree it's time for a hard pull.
Paying down a high-balance card can show results in 30–60 days. Realistic timeline for meaningful improvement: 6–18 months.
More than you'd think - several A-lenders have newcomer programs using international credit history or alternative data.
Multiple mortgage inquiries within a 14-day window are treated as a single inquiry.
Not a permanent no. Most A-lenders want 2 years from discharge with a rebuilt credit profile; B-lenders are sometimes available sooner.
Questions answered by Jeremy LaHaie, mortgage professional with INVIS Inc., serving Winnipeg, Ste Anne, Steinbach, and all of Southeast Manitoba. Call or text (204) 995-7336.