One of the most important factors in determining if you can qualify for a mortgage is your credit score. Lenders typically use the “middle” score when qualifying your loan. There are 3 scores, but they use the middle score, regardless of which credit reporting agency it is. Most lenders have a minimum credit score these days with 620 as the lowest score you can have and still obtain a new mortgage or refinance loan. The lower your credit score, the higher your interest rate, the two go hand in hand. So in order to qualify for the best rates, make sure you check your credit for any errors that may be on your report, but most importantly make sure you pay your bills on time.