680
Good — Approve with Standard Terms
You've crossed into "Good" territory — about 70% of Americans are at 670 or above, so you're now in the majority. (Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review)
Approved Lenders
Conventional lenders, credit unions (preferred)
Est. Monthly Payment ($400K home)
$2,044/mo
vs 740 Score
+$63/mo · +$22,680 over 30yr
The Real Answer
A 680 score qualifies for conventional loans, but you're not getting the best rates. Pushing to 720+ could save $15,000-30,000 over the loan.
💳 Your Score is Costing You Money
$22,680 more
vs a 740 score on the same $400K home over 30 years
Not financial advice · Individual results vary
Disclosure: FRC may earn a commission if you use this link — at no cost to you. This does not influence our data or analysis.
Next Steps
The Real Story at 680
At 680, you qualify for conventional loans at most lenders. You're not getting the absolute best rates — that starts at 720 — but you're a legitimate borrower with real options.
💡 Banker's Tip for 680
The 680-720 improvement saves approximately $150/month on a $400K loan. That's $54,000 over 30 years. Worth 3-6 months of focused credit work.
Best Cities for a 680 Score
Data Table
| City | Price Range | Verdict |
|---|
| Nashville, TN | $300K-$480K | ✅ Workable |
| Austin, TX | $320K-$520K | ✅ Workable |
| Denver, CO | $340K-$540K | ✅ Workable |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum credit score for a mortgage?
FHA loans accept scores as low as 580 (with 10% down) or 500 (with 10% down). Conventional loans typically require 620+. VA and USDA loans have no official minimum but most lenders require 620+.
How long does it take to improve a 680 credit score?
Most people see meaningful improvement in 60-90 days with focused action. Significant improvements (40+ points) typically take 6-12 months. The fastest wins come from reducing credit utilization and disputing errors.
Should I wait to buy a house until my credit improves?
It depends on your market and timeline. A 60-point improvement could save $40,000+ over 30 years — often worth 3-6 months of waiting. But if home prices are rising faster than your interest savings, buying sooner may make more sense. Run the numbers for your specific situation.
The half of the answer almost nobody publishes free
Credit-score thresholds are the visible half of qualifying. The other half is which lender receives your file — and that half is measurable. In the complete 2025 federal HMDA record (1,187,606 FHA applications that reached a credit decision), denial rates across the 100 largest FHA lenders ranged from 1.8% to 78.7%. Same federal program, same year: a 44× spread.
And it is not simply a matter of who applies where. Holding state, loan amount, income, debt-to-income and loan-to-value constant across 24,933 borrower-profile cells, applicant mix explains only a 2.9× range — while the observed spread stays 44×.
CFPB HMDA 2025, computed by FinanceRateCalc · decisioned = actions 1,2,3 · rates partly reflect applicant mix · historical observation, not a prediction about any individual application · free, CC BY 4.0.
The Denial Dispatch
One finding a week from the federal mortgage record.
One chart, three paragraphs, every Saturday. Measured, not assumed.
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