Credit Score Guidelines Mortgage Lending Refinance or Purchase

As a key component in evaluating you as a credit risk, lenders use this information to see if you have missed payments, carry high balances, or are in other ways over extending yourself financially. The following categories are a general guideline to borrower creditworthiness (these are general guidelines only - other factors may be included in your credit evaluation and the approval process):

Excellent Credit
Credit scores of 720 and above

5 trade credit lines (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages) each having been open for at least 24 months
All accounts have been paid as agreed
No public records of bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts, or collections within the last 10 years
Low current credit balance relative to maximum available credit limit
Minimum number of credit inquiries

Very Good Credit
Credit scores between 680-719

5 trade credit lines (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages) have each been open for at least 24 months
All accounts have been paid as agreed
No public records of bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts, or collections within the last 7 years
Low current credit balance relative to maximum available credit limit
Minimum number of credit inquiries

Good Credit
Credit scores between 620-679

5 trade credit lines (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages) have each been open for at least 24 months
Most accounts have been paid as agreed, with only occasional late payments
No public records of bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts, or collections within the last 10 years
May have significant current credit balance relative to maximum available credit limit
Several recent credit inquiries

Fair Credit
Credit scores between 580-619

3 trade credit lines (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages) have each been open for at least 24 months
Most accounts have been paid as agreed, with only occasional late payments
No public record of bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts, or collections within the last few years
May have significant credit balance relative to maximum available credit limit
Several recent credit inquiries

Poor Credit
Credit scores 579 and below

One or more accounts have not been paid as agreed
May have had a bankruptcy, foreclosure, serious past due accounts or collections
High number of recent credit inquiries
Proportion of revolving balances to revolving credit limits is too high

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