What credit score and down payment are required?

FHA allows 3.5% down with a 580 score, or 10% down with a score of 500-579. Individual lenders may require higher scores.

Can the down payment be a gift?

Yes — your full 3.5% down payment can come from a family member as a documented gift, which helps in many of these situations.

FHA Loan for First-Time Home Buyers

Wondering about for first-time home buyers? Here is exactly how the FHA program treats this situation in 2026, with the specific rules and numbers that apply.

The short answer

First-time buyers are FHA's core audience: 3.5% down, 580 minimum score, gift-fund down payments, and compatibility with most state down-payment-assistance programs. There is no income limit, and a 'first-time buyer' simply means no ownership in the past three years.

What lenders focus on here

Beyond the rule above, an underwriter weighs the whole file — but the factors that matter most in this situation are credit, documentable income, and your debt-to-income ratio.

Timing & documentation: waiting periods and a clean recent history matter more than the event itself.
Down payment: 3.5% minimum (580+), and gift funds are allowed.
Lender overlays: minimums vary by lender, so comparing several is worth it.

FHA guidelines and lender overlays change. Join the free FHA Notification Program to be alerted when the rules that affect this situation shift.

Your next steps

Pull your credit, gather two years of income documentation, and get pre-approved so you know your real budget. Because lenders set their own overlays on FHA's baseline, comparing two or three is especially important here — one may decline a file another approves.

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Frequently Asked Questions

FHA Loan for First-Time Home Buyers — is it possible in 2026?: First-time buyers are FHA's core audience: 3.5% down, 580 minimum score, gift-fund down payments, and compatibility with most state down-payment-assistance programs. There is no income limit, and a 'first-time buyer' simply means no ownership in the past three years.
What credit score and down payment are required?: FHA allows 3.5% down with a 580 score, or 10% down with a score of 500-579. Individual lenders may require higher scores.
Can the down payment be a gift?: Yes — your full 3.5% down payment can come from a family member as a documented gift, which helps in many of these situations.