Credit score comes up in almost every first conversation with a buyer, and it's usually followed by some version of "is mine good enough?" The honest answer is that it depends on the loan program — but the more useful answer is that a score isn't fixed. It moves, and it moves based on specific, well-documented factors. Here's what actually goes into it, and five concrete ways to move it in the right direction before you apply. What a Credit Score Needs to Be, by Loan Type Min