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Can You Buy a House with No Credit?

A solid record of making on-time payments on expenses like rent and utilities can stand in for a traditional credit history.

Author
By Kim Porter

Written by

Kim Porter

Freelance writer, Credible

Kim Porter is an expert on credit, mortgages, student loans, and debt management. She has been featured by U.S. News & World Report, USA TODAY Blueprint, Forbes Adviser, Yahoo News, and MSN.

Edited by Reina Marszalek

Written by

Reina Marszalek

Senior editor, Credible

Reina Marszalek has over 10 years of experience in personal finance and is a senior mortgage editor at Credible.

Updated September 18, 2024

Editorial disclosure: Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as “Credible.”

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Credit is one of the main components of qualifying for a mortgage — and while some buyers have built a long credit history, others are just getting started. First-time homebuyers are less likely to have credit, which means they could face challenges getting a loan.

If you’re in this position, don’t fret, it’s still possible to buy a house with no credit. You’ll just need to show you can afford the upfront costs and monthly mortgage payments.

What is credit?

Credit is the ability to borrow money when you need it. If you’ve heard people talk about building credit, they mean taking steps to show you generally pay back the money you borrow as agreed.

There are three major pieces to your credit, and understanding how