Buying A House — When One Person Has Bad Credit

: If you need both incomes to qualify for the desired loan amount, focus on a quick credit boost for the lower-scoring partner before applying .

AI responses may include mistakes. For financial advice, consult a professional. Learn more How To Buy A House With Bad Credit | Loan Options 2026

: If the partner with good credit can qualify for the loan using only their income, you can leave the other person off the mortgage application. This often secures a better interest rate .

“Applying solo fixes the credit problem, but it also takes your spouse's income out of the equation.” Experian

Scores between may still qualify but require a 10% down payment .

Buying a home when one partner has poor credit is achievable through several strategic paths, most notably by if the high-credit partner has sufficient income, or by utilizing government-backed loans like FHA, which have more lenient credit requirements . 1. Evaluate Application Strategies