Key takeaways Credit scores typically span from 300 to 850 — the higher your score, the better. Different mortgages have different minimum credit score requirements. Generally, higher scores will qualify for lower interest rates. Paying your bills punctually and paying down outstanding debts can help raise your credit score. When you’re financing the purchase of a home, it’s important to understand what mortgage lenders look for when evaluating potential borrowers. One factor they strongly value is your credit score, a measure of how creditworthy you are: The higher your score, the more attractive you will appear to lenders.FICO and VantageScore, two of the most prominent players, score in a range from a low of 300 to a high of 850. Ideally, your credit score is closer to that high end. But what if your credit score is a bit lower than ideal? For example, is 700 a good credit score to buy a house? Here we’ll break down recommended scores for different types of mortgage loans, and wheth...