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I don’t know about you, but my Google News feed is just overflowing with articles about how people with the best credit scores are killing it, or what kind of perks come with 800-plus credit scores. And, hey, I’m happy for these people, but they make up no more than 25% of all adults in America, according to April 2024 FICO data.

The rest of us, especially those of us who had significant financial setbacks during the pandemic, are just doing the best we can and hoping we can be good enough to exist in our credit-driven culture. So this is me, a personal finance and mortgage expert, telling my fellow bottom 25%-ers that a credit score of 660 is good enough for now. Here’s why.

1. You can still get a mortgage

Assuming you don’t have a lot of outstanding debt in collections or litigations pending, you can still get a mortgage with a 660 credit score. In fact, FHA loans with 3.5% down payments start at about 580 (you have to be a really strong borrower in ways beyond credit, though). And conventional loans start at about 620, depending on your down payment and other factors.

If you’ve been putting off calling a lender to see if you can qualify for a home loan, there’s no time like today if you’re in the ballpark of 660. Touch base with some of the lenders on our list of favorites to see just what you can borrow based on your credit profile.

2. Car loans are possible

When I say car loans are possible, I don’t mean buying a car at one of those “buy here, pay here” dealerships. With a 660, you can get a real car loan, though it may be a little bit easier if you go through your credit union. Depending on the type of car you want and how much you can spend, you certainly have options.

Cars are one of our biggest purchases, and you’re not going to be left in the cold with a 660, even if you may need to shop a little bit more for the best rate.

3. There are even credit cards for you

You probably get the same crappy credit card offers I do all the time — the ones that have huge deposits or massive annual fees for very small credit lines. But just because those are the offers you get mailed directly, it doesn’t mean they’re all you qualify for.

Although you should use credit carefully, credit cards can make modern life a lot easier, and you can qualify for lots of decent cards with a 660 credit score. Check out our list of our favorite credit cards to find out which ones may be willing to extend you a line of credit with benefits at your current score.

Getting to 700 and beyond

If you’re standing in your credit hole like I am, staring up at the stars and hoping for something better, I promise you it’s not forever. There are ways to improve your credit score, but the most frustrating element is time. Credit scores aren’t magically fixed overnight, especially when you’ve had a financial upset.

But you can get to at least 700 if you’re:

• Satisfying collections and judgments
• Dedicated to paying down your debt, especially on revolving credit lines
• Not opening a bunch of new credit lines (the age of your credit is important)
• Paying all your bills on time
• Using those older credit lines here and there to keep them open (and immediately paying off those charges in full)

The tincture of time can cure a lot of ills, even when it comes to credit woes. I know it’s frustrating — I’m there with you. But over time, we can all improve our credit scores and our odds of being able to affordably finance whatever large purchases we may need to make.

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Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Kristi Waterworth has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.