When it comes to buying a home, your credit score can feel like a mystery. Many people assume that if their credit isn’t perfect, they can’t buy a home — but that’s simply not true.

As a mortgage lender in Middle Tennessee, I help people every day who thought they couldn’t qualify. The truth is, there are loan programs designed for lower credit scores, and in many cases, we can go down into the 500s and still get you approved.

1. You Don’t Need Perfect Credit to Buy a Home

Gone are the days when you needed a spotless credit history to qualify for a mortgage. There are specialized loan programs that can help you even if your credit isn’t where you want it to be:

• FHA Loans: Designed for first-time buyers and those rebuilding credit, with flexible guidelines and down payments as low as 3.5%.

• VA Loans: For eligible veterans and service members, offering zero down payment and more lenient credit standards.

• Non-traditional and specialty programs: These options can help borrowers with unique credit situations or self-employed income.

So if you’ve been putting off buying because of your credit score — don’t. You may have more options than you realize.

2. Your Credit Might Be Better Than You Think

If you’ve had credit challenges in the past, time can be your friend. Over the years, late payments, collections, and charge-offs lose their impact, especially when you’ve been consistent recently.

I’ve worked with many clients who were shocked to see their scores had bounced back far more than expected. Even if you’ve had setbacks, your credit report might tell a much better story now.

3. You Can Improve Your Credit with Strategy — Not Stress

Improving your credit doesn’t always mean waiting years or paying off everything at once. I work one-on-one with clients to create a credit improvement plan tailored to their situation.
Here are a few of the strategies we use:

• Negotiating with creditors to remove old collections or reduce balances

• Requesting goodwill adjustments to remove late fees or negative marks

• Disputing inaccurate information that’s dragging your score down

• Optimizing credit usage to improve your credit ratios

It’s not always straightforward — but that’s where expert guidance helps.

4. You Can Check Where You Stand Without Hurting Your Credit

One of the biggest hesitations people have is checking their credit because they’re worried it will lower their score. The good news: we can run a soft credit pull to see where you stand.

A soft pull gives me the same valuable information I need to help you plan your next steps — without impacting your credit score or triggering calls from other lenders. It’s a no-pressure way to understand your situation and create a roadmap to homeownership.

5. It All Starts with a Plan

Credit improvement isn’t just about numbers — it’s about direction. Whether your goal is to buy a home in a few months or next year, it starts with knowing where you are now. From there, I’ll help you put a custom plan together to get mortgage-ready and take advantage of today’s programs designed for real people in real situations.

Let’s See Where You Stand

You don’t have to figure it out alone. Whether you’re ready to apply or just want to understand your credit and options, I’m here to help you every step of the way.