What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House in San Diego in 2026?
By Dave Holland, NMLS #2273319 · Keypath Mortgage, Clairemont San Diego
The minimum credit score to buy a house in San Diego in 2026 is 580 for an FHA loan with 3.5% down, 620 for a conventional loan, and no official minimum for a VA loan. For the lowest interest rates, a credit score of 740 or higher is ideal. San Diego County 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 baseline / $1,104,000 high-balance.
Minimum Credit Score by Loan Type (2026)
- FHA loan: 580 with 3.5% down.
- Conventional loan: 620.
- VA loan: no official minimum (lenders use 580 to 620).
- Jumbo loan: 700 to 740+ with 10 to 20% down.
San Diego County 2026 Loan Limits
- Baseline conforming: $832,750
- High-balance conforming: $1,104,000
- FHA: $832,750 / $1,104,000
- VA: no limit with full entitlement
Get Pre-Approved
Free pre-approval in under 24 hours. Call (619) 900-6614 or contact us. NMLS #2273319.
Prefer to watch? The credit score videos, plus every other topic on this site, are grouped by subject in the San Diego mortgage video library.