The future of your mortgage loan and the ownership of the home you have in mind depends on your three-digit credit score. Keep in mind that the minimum FICO credit score you need to get a mortgage loan is ultimately the decision of your individual lender.

If you have bad (a 500 credit score to 580 credit score) to poor (a 581 credit score to 639 credit score) credit but want to increase your FICO Score by 150 points then read on to find out how to boost your credit score in the next 6 months.

Your credit score is just one of the factors your mortgage lender will use to determine whether you qualify for financing. The problem is, every lender uses different methods to determine your credit worthiness. So, in some cases, a minimum score is difficult to determine for conventional loans. In other cases, especially when loans are underwritten or insured by government organizations, there are minimum credit scores to qualify.

FHA has a two-tier credit score system for insuring loans. First-tier loans require a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, while second-tier loans require at least 10 percent. The first tier includes those with FICO scores of 580 or above, while the second tier includes those between 500 and 579. FHA does not insure loans with anything below a 500 credit score.

The FICO credit score ranges between 300 and 850 which is used often by banks, lenders and financial institution to determine whether to provide you with financial solutions and at what interest rate. A rule of thumb is the higher the credit score, the lower your rate will be.