A 675 credit score is considered fair, not good

A 675 credit score falls into the "fair" range for most scoring models. The three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) use FICO scores, which range from 300 to 850. Scores between 670 and 739 are typically classified as good, which means 675 sits just below that threshold. You are not in the poor range, but lenders will see more risk in your profile than they would at 700 or above.

What this means in practice: you can still borrow money and rent housing, but you will pay higher interest rates, face stricter terms, or encounter more scrutiny during the approval process. Some lenders will turn you down entirely at 675, while others will approve you but charge you more.

Key Takeaways

  • A 675 score is below the "good" threshold of 670–739 on most FICO models, putting you in the fair range where approval is possible but not may provide.
  • Mortgage lenders typically want 620 or higher, but a 675 score will result in a higher interest rate than borrowers with scores above 740.
  • Auto loans and credit cards are more accessible at 675, though interest rates and credit limits will reflect the fair rating.
  • Landlords often check credit scores, and a 675 may trigger a request for a co-signer, higher deposit, or proof of income.
  • Raising your score by 25 to 50 points over the next few months can move you into the good range and unlock better terms.

How lenders view a 675 score when you apply for a mortgage

Most mortgage lenders require a minimum credit score of 620 to consider your application. At 675, you meet that floor, but you will not receive the best rates. A borrower with a 760 score might get a 30-year mortgage at 6.5%, while you could be offered 7.2% or higher for the same loan amount. Over the life of a $300,000 mortgage, that difference adds up to tens of thousands of dollars in extra interest.

Some lenders have overlays — additional rules beyond the minimum score — that make 675 a harder sell. They may require a larger down payment (15% instead of 10%), demand a co-signer, or ask for proof that you have paid all recent bills on time. FHA loans, which are designed for lower-credit borrowers, are more forgiving at 675, but they come with mortgage insurance premiums that conventional loans do not.

Credit cards and auto loans at a 675 score

Credit card issuers are more flexible than mortgage lenders. At 675, you can be approved for standard credit cards, though you may not may have access to for premium cards with high rewards or low introductory rates. You will likely receive a card with an interest rate between 18% and 24%, compared to 12% to 18% for borrowers with scores above 740. Your credit limit may also be lower — $2,000 to $5,000 instead of $10,000 or more.

Auto loans follow a similar pattern. Dealerships and banks will lend to you at 675, but the interest rate will be higher than for borrowers with better scores. A used car loan might come at 8% to 10% interest, versus 4% to 6% for someone with a 750 score. New car loans are slightly more favorable because the vehicle itself is collateral, but the rate gap still exists.

Renting an apartment or house with a 675 score

Landlords do not have a universal credit score requirement the way mortgage lenders do. Some landlords do not check credit at all; others use it as one factor among many. At 675, you are in a gray zone. A landlord might approve you outright, ask for a larger security deposit, request a co-signer, or ask for proof of income to show you can cover rent reliably.

If your score is 675 because of late payments or high credit card balances, a landlord may see that as a red flag for rent payment risk. If your score is low because you have little credit history (few accounts, short history), landlords often view that more favorably than a history of missed payments. Be prepared to explain what brought your score down, and offer documentation — recent pay stubs, bank statements, or a letter from a previous landlord — to show you pay your obligations on time.

What is pulling your 675 score down

Your credit score is built from five factors: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit inquiries (10%). At 675, at least one of these is working against you. The most common culprits are late or missed payments in the past two years, credit card balances that are high relative to your limits, or too many recent credit inquiries from applying for new cards or loans.

Pull your free credit report from annualcreditreport.com (the only official site for free reports) and look for errors. Mistakes — a payment marked late when you paid on time, an account that is not yours, a balance that is wrong — can drag your score down unfairly. If you find errors, dispute them with the bureau in writing. Correcting them can raise your score by 10 to 50 points.

Steps to move from 675 to 700 or higher

The fastest way to raise your score is to lower your credit card balances. If you are carrying balances close to your limits, paying them down to 30% of your limit or lower will improve your score within one or two billing cycles. This is because credit utilization (the percentage of available credit you are using) makes up 30% of your score.

Second, make sure every payment — credit card, loan, utility, phone bill — is on time from now on. One late payment can drop your score 50 to 100 points, but the damage fades over time. Payments from two years ago matter less than recent ones. If you have missed payments, focus on not missing any going forward; your score will gradually recover.

Third, do not close old credit card accounts, even if you pay them off. Closing an account lowers the total credit available to you, which raises your utilization ratio and can hurt your score. Keep old accounts open and use them occasionally to show activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be denied for a mortgage with a 675 credit score?

No. Most lenders will approve you for an FHA or conventional mortgage at 675, though you will face higher interest rates and may need a larger down payment or co-signer. Some lenders have stricter overlays and may decline, so shop with multiple lenders before assuming you will be turned down.

How long does it take to raise a 675 score to 700?

It depends on what is holding your score down. If high credit card balances are the issue, paying them down can raise your score 20 to 50 points within one or two months. If late payments are the problem, your score will improve slowly over time as the payments age; expect three to six months for a 25-point gain.

Is a 675 score bad enough that I should not apply for anything?

No. A 675 score is not ideal, but it is not a barrier to borrowing or renting. You will pay more or face stricter terms, but you have options. Applying for a mortgage or auto loan will not hurt your score significantly — a hard inquiry drops it only a few points, and the impact fades within months.

Can I get a credit card with a 675 score?

Yes. Most card issuers will approve you at 675, though you may not may have access to for premium cards with high rewards. Look for standard cards designed for fair credit, and avoid applying to multiple cards in a short time, as each application creates a hard inquiry that temporarily lowers your score.

What if my 675 score is from errors on my credit report?

Dispute the errors with the credit bureau in writing. Include copies of documentation (payment receipts, bank statements) that prove the error. The bureau must investigate within 30 days and remove inaccurate information. Correcting errors can raise your score significantly, sometimes by 50 points or more.