Short answer: credit matters most for SBA, bank, DSCR and HELOC loans, and least for asset-based bridge and hard money loans, where the property carries the deal.
How score affects different loans
- HELOC / home equity: strict minimums; declines are common.
- DSCR rental loans: pricing tiers move with score; below program minimums you're out.
- SBA and bank loans: credit is one of the first filters.
- Bridge / hard money: lenders care more about equity and your exit. Low scores raise the rate rather than ending the deal.
What to do
- Tell us your real range up front. It decides which lenders we call.
- If you have strong equity, lead with an asset-based option.
- If you're close to a tier cutoff, a few points of improvement before applying can change your rate.
Related: Bridge loans · DSCR loans