Independent guide · updated October 2026

What credit score do you need to buy a house in Canada?

The official threshold for an insured mortgage, what lenders look at beyond the score, and how to improve it before applying for pre-approval.

In short

In Canada, you need a credit score of at least 600 (on a 300-to-900 scale) for at least one borrower — or the guarantor — when the mortgage is insured, meaning a down payment under 20%: that is the threshold published by CMHC. With 20% or more down, each lender sets its own threshold, with no public standard; a higher score gets access to the best rates. Below those thresholds, alternative lenders exist, at higher rates. Your credit report is free from Equifax and TransUnion.

Thresholds, by type of mortgage

SituationScore requiredSource
Insured mortgage (down payment under 20%)At least 600 for one borrower or guarantorCMHC — underwriting criteria
Uninsured mortgage (20% or more)Set by each lender, not publishedLender's credit policy
Alternative lenderMore flexible, at a higher rateSee alternative lenders

Canadian scores range from 300 to 900 (Equifax and TransUnion). CMHC adds debt limits: 39% gross debt service (GDS) and 44% total debt service (TDS).

Beyond the score: what the lender looks at

The score is only an entry filter. Lenders also look at your payment history (late payments, collections, bankruptcy or consumer proposal), your credit utilization, the stability of your income and your debt ratios. And you must pass the stress test. A newcomer with no Canadian history can be assessed differently (foreign credit report, a letter from their bank).

Improving your score before buying

The moves with the most effect, in the months before you apply:

  • Pay every account on time: payment history weighs the most.
  • Keep card and line-of-credit usage under about 30% of the limit.
  • Don't open new credit (car, card, furniture financing) before closing.
  • Check your file for free with Equifax and TransUnion and have errors corrected.
  • Keep your oldest accounts open: length of credit history counts.

Frequently asked questions

What credit score do you need to buy a house in Canada?

In Canada, you need a credit score of at least 600 (on a 300-to-900 scale) for at least one borrower — or the guarantor — when the mortgage is insured, meaning a down payment under 20%: that is the threshold published by CMHC. With 20% or more down, each lender sets its own threshold, with no public standard; a higher score gets access to the best rates. Below those thresholds, alternative lenders exist, at higher rates. Your credit report is free from Equifax and TransUnion.

Can you buy a house with a score under 600?

Not with a CMHC-insured mortgage if no borrower or guarantor reaches 600. The remaining options: add a co-borrower or guarantor who does, save 20% down for an uninsured mortgage, or go through an alternative lender, at a higher cost. A mortgage broker knows which lender accepts which file.

Does a pre-approval application lower my score?

An application triggers a credit check, which can lower the score slightly. Several mortgage applications within a short period are generally treated as a single rate search — one reason to use a broker who compares for you.

How can I check my credit score for free?

Equifax and TransUnion provide your credit report for free; several banks and apps also show your score at no cost. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada explains how.

Sources

Related reading — our data dossiers

A fragile credit file?

A mortgage broker knows which lenders accept which file. Payotte names a single verified one per sector.

Find a verified mortgage broker