VA doesn’t set a minimum credit score for a VA-backed home loan. Your lender does. VA’s own buyer’s guide says lenders typically want a score of about 620 unless there’s a large down payment, and each lender sets its own floor. On a new build, your credit also has to hold up from the day you sign with the builder until closing, which can be months later.
Brock Bremmer | U.S. Air Force Reserves Veteran | Real Estate Agent | eXp Realty | San Antonio Metro Area
VA Loan & New Construction Specialist
Also see: VA Loans on New Construction | Income for a VA New Build | Getting Your COE
Does VA Have a Minimum Credit Score?
No. VA’s Loan Guaranty Service puts it plainly in its program overview: “VA does not require a minimum credit score; however, lender may set a credit score limit.” VA.gov’s purchase-loan page says you have to meet VA’s and your lender’s standards for credit, income, and other requirements, and also live in the home.
That second part is what matters. VA guarantees part of the loan, but a private lender makes it. So the score you actually need is whatever the lender you choose requires.
What Score Do Lenders Usually Want?
VA’s Home Loan Guaranty Buyer’s Guide says lenders “may want borrowers to have a minimum credit score of 620, unless there is a large down payment.” That’s a typical number, not a rule. Some lenders set higher floors, and your score also affects the rate you’re offered.
Because floors vary, it’s worth shopping. VA’s guide recommends getting Loan Estimates from more than one lender and notes that multiple mortgage credit checks within a 45-day window are recorded as a single inquiry. If a builder’s preferred lender turns you down or prices you high, an outside VA lender may see your file differently. See builder lenders vs. outside lenders.
How Does VA Treat Thin Credit, Collections, Bankruptcy, and Foreclosure?
VA’s 2023 Loan Guaranty conference training on credit underwriting summarizes several flexibilities from Chapter 4 of the VA Lenders Handbook (M26-7):
- Thin credit: Lack of credit is not viewed as a negative, there’s no minimum number of tradelines, and non-traditional credit may be used.
- Medical collections: Identifiable medical collections or charge-offs can be disregarded, unless they’ve become a lien or judgment.
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy or foreclosure: Generally a two-year waiting period. It can be one year if credit has been re-established and the cause was outside your control.
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy: One year of payments made as agreed, with the trustee’s permission.
- Short sale or deed-in-lieu: No waiting period, but late mortgage payments before it are part of the credit review.
- Other derogatory credit: VA’s buyer’s guide says satisfactory credit is generally considered re-established after 12 months of satisfactory payments following the last derogatory item.
Those are VA’s standards. A lender can still be stricter, and an underwriter has to review the whole file. Nothing here guarantees an approval.
Why Does Credit Matter More on a New Build?
A resale purchase often closes within weeks. A to-be-built home can take months, and lenders commonly re-check credit and debts before closing. That gap creates risks you don’t have on a quick resale:
- New debt changes the math. A financed truck, furniture on a store card, or a new credit line raises your monthly debts. That can push your debt-to-income ratio or VA residual income out of line.
- Missed payments hurt more late in the process. A late payment during construction can show up on the final review.
- Deposits are at stake. Builders often collect earnest money and option or upgrade deposits early. If your financing falls apart months later, the contract terms decide what happens to that money. See what to look for in a builder’s purchase contract.
My rule for clients is simple: once you sign with a builder, don’t open, close, or max out any credit account until after closing without asking your lender first.
How Can You Prepare Your Credit Before Signing With a Builder?
- Pull all three reports. VA’s buyer’s guide points to AnnualCreditReport.com for free reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus. Dispute errors early, because corrections take time.
- Get a real pre-approval, not a quick pre-qualification. Ask the lender to run credit and review income and assets before you put down a deposit.
- Ask about compensating factors. VA’s credit training lists examples such as high residual income, significant liquid assets, a low debt-to-income ratio, long-term employment, and minimal payment shock.
- Gather explanations. If you have a past bankruptcy, foreclosure, or collection, write a short dated explanation and collect the paperwork now.
- Get your Certificate of Eligibility. Your lender can often pull it online. Here’s how to get a COE for a new build.
I walk through the full VA new-build process in How to Buy a New Construction Home with a VA Loan in San Antonio. Also budget for the VA funding fee unless you’re exempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does VA require a minimum credit score?
No. VA does not set a minimum credit score for VA-backed home loans, but lenders may set their own. VA’s buyer’s guide says lenders typically want about 620 unless there is a large down payment, and you still have to meet the lender’s credit and income standards.
How long after bankruptcy can you get a VA loan?
VA’s lender training says a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or foreclosure generally needs a two-year waiting period, or one year if credit is re-established and the cause was outside your control. For Chapter 13, VA looks for one year of on-time plan payments and the trustee’s permission. Lenders may be stricter.
Ready to Line Up Your VA Loan for a New Build?
Brock Bremmer with eXp Realty is a U.S. Air Force Reserves veteran with 130+ homes sold across the San Antonio metro and an eXp ICON agent (2023–24). He helps VA buyers line up lenders, builder deposits, and closing timelines on new construction in San Antonio, New Braunfels, and Boerne, so financing questions get answered before you sign.
- 📞 Call or text: 210-501-5088
- 📧 Email: [email protected]
- 📅 Schedule a free consultation
Also see: VA Loan Guide for San Antonio | Low VA Appraisal on a New Build | Using Your VA Loan Again | Income for a VA New Build | Builder vs. Outside Lenders
Sources: VA Loan Guaranty Service, VA Home Loan Overview; VA Home Loan Guaranty Buyer’s Guide; VA Loan Guaranty Conference 2023, Credit Underwriting; VA.gov, Purchase loan; VA, Eligibility Information for Today’s VA Home Loan (accessed November 8, 2026).