1. Can You Buy a Home With Less-Than-Perfect Credit? (Yes.)

First, let’s kill the myth: you do not need an 800 score to buy a home in Columbus, Evans Farm, New Albany, Lewis Center, or Delaware.

Very rough ranges:

1. 740+ – Lender high-fives you, best pricing and terms.

2. 700–739 – Still very solid, you’re in great shape.

3. 660–699 – Very common range; you can absolutely buy, just might pay a bit more in rate.

4. 620–659 – Still often workable, especially with the right loan program and strong income.

Below that, things get trickier—but even then, sometimes there are options if the rest of your file is strong and you’re willing to put in some cleanup work.

Point is: don’t talk yourself out of buying in Dublin or Westerville just because your credit isn’t “perfect.”

2. Why Your Score Matters More Than You Think (Payment, Not Just Approval)

Most buyers focus on one question:

“Will I get approved?”

Better question:

“What does my credit score do to my monthly payment?”

In Columbus, Powell, Dublin, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Lewis Center, Westerville, and Delaware, your credit score affects:

• Your interest rate

• Whether you pay more in fees to get the same rate

• How tight a lender will be on debt-to-income ratios

Two buyers can buy the same $400K home in Westerville and end up with very different payments just because one is a 745 score and the other is 655. You both “got approved,” but one is paying for that approval every single month.

3. Different Loan Types, Different Score Expectations

Not all loans play by the same rules. Very simplified:

• Conventional loans

  • Typically like to see 620+ minimum.

  • Better pricing kicks in as you climb into the 700s and above.

  • Common in many resale deals around Dublin, Powell, Westerville, Upper Arlington, and New Albany.

• FHA loans

  • Built to be more forgiving.

  • Often workable with scores in the 600s, and sometimes below with strong compensating factors.

  • Can be a great fit for first-time buyers targeting Columbus, Lewis Center, or Delaware where a slightly higher payment is acceptable to get in the door.

• VA / USDA

  • Fantastic if you qualify, but have their own rules and guidelines.

  • Often more flexible on scores if the rest of your file is strong.

This is where talking to a solid local lender early matters—I can connect you to a few who do this all day in Central Ohio.

4. Quick Wins: How to Boost Your Score Before You Buy

You don’t have to spend years rebuilding credit to make a difference. Sometimes 30–90 days of focus can move the needle enough to help you in Columbus, Powell, Dublin, Evans Farm, Westerville, or Delaware.

Common, high-impact moves:

• Lower credit card utilization – Getting balances down below ~30% of the limit can help.

• Stop opening new accounts – That store card for 10% off? Not worth it right now.

• Clean up obvious errors – Disputing incorrect late payments or accounts can make a real difference.

• Pay everything on time – Sounds basic, but a single late already in the pipeline can hurt.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s nudging your score into the next “pricing tier” so you get better terms on that house in New Albany, Upper Arlington, or Lewis Center.

5. How I Like to Coach Buyers on Credit & Timing

Here’s how I handle this with real humans, not robots:

• We talk about your rough score range early (no judgment).

• I point you to a good local lender who can run numbers and tell us, “You’re ready now,” or, “Do X, Y, Z for 60 days and you’ll be in a better spot.”

• We line up neighborhoods—Columbus, Powell, Dublin, Westerville, Evans Farm, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Lewis Center, Delaware—so your budget, score, and target areas all match.

• We decide together:

  • Buy now with the current score and plan to refinance later, or

  • Do a quick tune-up, then shop.

You don’t need to be embarrassed about your credit. You just need a plan so it doesn’t quietly cost you tens of thousands over the life of your loan.

If you’re thinking about buying and want to sanity-check where you stand—and what’s realistic for you in today’s Central Ohio market—let’s talk through it before you fall in love with a house online.

[Contact Patrick Murphy, REALTOR® — Columbus, Powell & Dublin Expert]