FHA & VA Manual Underwriting Down to 500 Credit Score
Defense contractors, intelligence community, tech executives — Fairfax County has some of the highest incomes in America. But McLean and Great Falls lifestyle costs stretch credit cards. When scores drop, we manually underwrite when banks won't.
Joe Shalaby
Founder & Senior Loan Officer
NMLS #139369
"Fairfax County is the wealthiest county in America by median income. But that comes with expectations — the right neighborhood, the right schools, the right cars. Credit cards get stretched. Your clearance is fine, your income is stable, but your score dropped. Manual underwriting looks at the full picture."
Why Fairfax County Homeowners Need Manual Underwriting
Wealthiest County Lifestyle
McLean and Great Falls have $2M+ median home prices. The lifestyle to match stretches credit cards. High utilization tanks scores fast.
Multi-Million Properties
FHA limits cap at $636k, but we have NON-QM jumbo options with manual underwriting for higher amounts. VA has no loan limit.
Contractor & Cleared Income
We understand defense contractor income, cleared positions, and the unique aspects of intelligence community employment. Stable income matters.
FHA Manual Underwriting
- Credit scores down to 500 FICO
- High-balance limit: $636,150
- Contractor income accepted
- DTI up to 50% with compensating factors
VA Manual Underwriting
- No minimum credit score
- $0 down, no PMI, no loan limit
- Pentagon, Quantico, Fort Belvoir veterans
- Intelligence community welcome
Recent Closings in Fairfax County
FHA purchase — defense contractor with $80k credit card debt. Denied by Navy Federal. Manual underwriting approved with stable cleared income.
Marine veteran, now at CIA. Credit dropped during transition. $0 down, no PMI, no loan limit, closed in 28 days.
Consolidated $72k credit cards. Monthly payments dropped $2,100. Score recovered to 720 in 5 months.
FHA & VA Loan Questions for Fairfax County
Can I get an FHA loan in McLean or Great Falls with a 520 credit score?
Yes. We manually underwrite FHA loans down to 500 FICO in McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, and all of Fairfax County. Most banks stop at 620-640.
What's the FHA loan limit in Fairfax County Virginia?
For 2025, the FHA high-balance limit in Fairfax County is $636,150 for a single-family home — matching the DC metro high-cost area limits.
Do you work with defense contractors and intelligence community?
Absolutely. Fairfax County is the heart of the defense and intelligence community. We understand contractor income, security clearances, and the unique aspects of this employment.