Kentucky Mortgage Credit Scores & Approval Guide
Complete guide to credit requirements for FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional & KHC programs in Kentucky
Understanding Mortgage Credit Scores in Kentucky
Important: Mortgage lenders use FICO mortgage score models (FICO 2, 4, 5), not the VantageScore results you see on Credit Karma or free credit monitoring apps. This can mean a difference of 20-50+ points.
🧮 Quick Credit Score Assessment
Credit Score Requirements by Program
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🏠 Conventional Loans (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac)Minimum: 620 for automated approval
Best rates: 740+ credit score
Down payment: 3% minimum for first-time buyers -
🏛️ FHA Loans500-579: 10% down payment required
580+: 3.5% down payment
Note: Individual lender overlays may apply -
🇺🇸 VA Loans (Veterans)Official minimum: None
Typical lender requirement: 580-620
Benefit: 0% down payment, no PMI -
🌾 USDA Rural HousingAutomated approval: 640+ typical
Manual underwriting: Lower scores considered
Benefit: 0% down in eligible rural areas -
🏡 KHC Down Payment AssistanceRequirements: Follows underlying loan program
Assistance: Up to $10,000 down payment help
Eligibility: First-time buyers, income limits apply
Credit Score Impact Breakdown
Payment History
35%
Credit Utilization
30%
Length of Credit History
15%
Fast-Track Credit Improvement Strategies
- Pay all bills on time — Set up autopay for minimum payments
- Lower credit utilization — Keep balances below 30% of credit limits (10% is ideal)
- Don't close old accounts — Keep them open to maintain credit history length
- Dispute errors immediately — Pull free reports from annualcreditreport.com
- Avoid new credit applications — Stop applying 6 months before mortgage shopping
- Pay down collections — Recent collections hurt more than old ones
Timeline for Credit Issues
- Late payments: 7 years
- Collections: 7 years from original delinquency
- Foreclosure: 7 years
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: 10 years
- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: 7 years
💡 Pro Tip
You don't need perfect credit to get approved. Many of my clients get approved with scores in the 580-620 range using the right loan program and strategic planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do mortgage lenders in Kentucky actually use?
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Lenders use FICO mortgage scores (FICO 2, 4, 5), not the VantageScore results from Credit Karma or other free monitoring services. These mortgage scores can be 20-50 points different from what you see online.
Can I get approved with a 580 credit score?
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Yes! FHA loans allow 580+ with 3.5% down. VA loans often approve 580+ scores. and USDA 580 + score with manual underwriting and compensating factors such as low debt ratio, a lot of reserves, i.e. a lot of money saved in bank or 401k accounts, house payment lower than current rent or housing payment. No payment shock
Will shopping for rates hurt my credit score?
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No. Mortgage rate shopping within a 45 day window counts as a single inquiry. Pre-qualification soft pulls don't affect your score at all.
How long does it take to improve my credit score?
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Small improvements can show in 30-60 days (paying down balances, disputing errors). Significant improvements typically take 3-6 months of consistent good habits.
Do collections automatically disqualify me?
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Do Collections Stop You From Getting a Mortgage?
Not necessarily. Many loan programs allow collections to remain on your credit report, especially if they are medical collections, in dispute, or if you’ve set up payment arrangements.
Most of the time, collections don’t have to be paid off to get approved.
However, if your total collections are over a certain amount, lenders may have to factor in 5% of the outstanding balance into your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).
Example: If you have a $7,000 collection, $350 would be added to your monthly liabilities for qualifying purposes. This doesn’t mean you have to pay it off — just that it’s counted in your DTI.
Liens that affect the title are a different story — those may need to be paid off or subordinated with a payment plan before closing.
Critical tip: Never dispute an account while applying for a mortgage. If a tradeline is in dispute, it will need to be resolved and your credit report re-pulled before underwriting can proceed.
✅ Bottom line: Collections usually aren’t deal-breakers. With the right loan program and strategy, you can still move forward toward approval.Not necessarily. Many programs allow collections if they're medical, disputed, or you have payment arrangements. We can often work around collections with the right loan program. Most of the time collections do not have to be paid but if over a certain amount we may have to include 5% of the outstanding collections balance in the debt to income ratio. For example if you have a $7k collection. then we would need to put $350 into your liaibiltes but does not need to be paid-Liens affecting title could have to be paid or subordinated with a payment plan.
