FHA Credit Scores in 2027 at a Glance
Starts: FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2027
New scores allowed: VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T
Old score: Classic FICO is still allowed
Who picks: Your lender
More than one kind of score: The lowest one counts
FHA minimum scores: The same as today
What This Means If Your Credit Is Thin or Rebuilt
Thin credit means you do not have many accounts yet. Rebuilt credit means you had trouble in the past and you are fixing it. You may have heard about these new scores.
Here is the honest picture. HUD says the new scores look at how you use credit over time. HUD also says they can use things like rent and utility bills. That may help some people. It will not help everyone. Rent only counts if it shows up on your credit report. Many renters pay on time for years, and it never shows up on their credit report.
Two more things matter. Your lender decides which score to use. And if your lender uses more than one kind, the lowest one counts. So the plan is the same as it always was. Build good habits now, and have a loan officer look at your credit report with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is changing with FHA credit scores in 2027?
FHA is adding two credit scores that lenders may use. They are VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T. Right now, FHA loans use the Classic FICO score, and that score will still be allowed. The change starts with FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2027. HUD set this out in Mortgagee Letter 2026 number 11 on October 8, 2026.
When does the new FHA credit score rule start?
It starts with FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2027. Your lender asks FHA for a case number after you apply for a loan on a home with an address. So the date of the case number is what matters, not the day you close. If your case number comes before that date, your lender will use the Classic FICO score.
Does my lender have to use VantageScore 4.0 or FICO 10T?
No. The rule lets lenders use the new scores, but it does not make them. Your lender may use Classic FICO, a new score, or more than one kind. You do not get to choose. Everyone on the same loan has to be scored with the same kind of score. It is fair to ask your lender which scores it plans to use.
If my lender uses more than one kind of credit score, which one counts?
The lowest one counts. For each kind of score, the lender takes your middle score from the three credit bureaus. If only two bureaus give a score, it takes the lower one. Then it compares the kinds of scores and keeps the lowest. If two people are on the loan, FHA uses the lower person's score. So adding more kinds of scores cannot lift you above your lowest one.
Is the minimum credit score for an FHA loan changing?
No. HUD says the minimum scores stay the same, no matter which score your lender uses. With a score of 580 or more, FHA allows its smallest down payment. From 500 to 579, FHA asks for more money down. Below 500, FHA will not insure the loan. Some lenders ask for a higher score than FHA does.
I have thin credit. Could the new scores help me?
They might, but no one can promise it. Thin credit means you have only a few accounts or a short history. HUD says the new scores look at how you use credit over time, and they can use things like rent and utility bills. Those only help if they show up on your credit report. Your new score could be higher, lower or the same. If you have no credit score at all, FHA still lets a lender review your file by hand.
I am rebuilding my credit. What can I do before 2027?
The basics still matter most. Pay every bill on time. Keep your card balances low. Try not to open new accounts right before you apply. Check your credit reports for mistakes, and ask the credit bureau to fix any you find. You can get your reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. None of this promises a higher score, but it puts your file in better shape for any score your lender uses.
Should I wait until 2027 to buy a home in Houston?
Not just because of this rule. The minimum scores are not changing, and your lender may keep using Classic FICO. Whether to wait depends on your own credit, savings and plans. A good first step is a free call with a loan officer who can look at your credit report with you. I do these calls in English or Vietnamese, and I will tell you which path fits you today.
What to Do Next
If you want to buy a home in Houston in the next year, start with your credit. Book a free call and we can look at your report together, in English or Vietnamese. If you are ready now, you can start your application below.
Brandon Huynh, Loan Officer, NMLS #2522494. Lock It Mortgage, a trade name of Swift Home Loans, Inc., NMLS #2075228. Equal Housing Opportunity. This page is for education. It is not a promise of a loan or of any credit score.