Mortgage Approval
How to Get Approved for a House
Underwriters look at four boards at once: score, debt-to-income, employment, and asset history. Win each one and the keys are yours.
Your position on the board
You're playing for the queen and the king at once — the house and the lifelong wealth it builds. Sloppy moves now cost you for 30 years.
Your move
Queen's gambit — let's plan the full game.
Book a 30-minute approval strategy session.
Book a Strategy SessionScore thresholds by loan type
FHA: 580 (3.5% down) or 500 (10% down). VA: typically 580+. USDA: 640+. Conventional: 620+ minimum, 740+ for best pricing.
DTI matters as much as your score
Most loans cap front-end DTI at 31% and back-end at 43–50%. Paying down a $300/mo credit card payment can be worth more than 20 score points.
Tradeline depth: the underwriter's hidden test
Manual underwrites and FHA loans often require 3+ tradelines with 12+ months of history. Thin files get denied even with great scores.
Don't touch your credit during underwriting
No new accounts, no closed accounts, no big balance shifts. Every credit move during underwriting triggers a new pull and can sink the loan.
Frequently asked
Can I get a house with a 580 credit score?
Yes — FHA allows 3.5% down at 580. We optimize the file to land at 600+ so you get better pricing.
How much income do I need to get approved?
Enough that your total monthly debt (including the new mortgage) stays under ~43% of gross income.
Can I get approved with collections on my credit?
Often yes — especially medical collections. Non-medical collections over $2,000 typically need to be paid or excluded.
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