FHA & VA Manual Underwriting Down to 500 Credit Score
Wall Street commuters, hedge fund managers, finance professionals — high incomes but also high lifestyle costs. When credit cards get stretched and scores drop, Greenwich banks won't help their own neighbors. We manually underwrite when they won't.
Joe Shalaby
Founder & Senior Loan Officer
NMLS #139369
"I work with a lot of Fairfield County finance professionals. $500k+ income, but between the Metro North pass, private school tuition, country club dues, and keeping up with the neighbors — credit cards get stretched. Your bonus will pay it off, but your score dropped now. That's exactly what manual underwriting solves."
Why Fairfield County Homeowners Need Manual Underwriting
Gold Coast Lifestyle
Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan — the Gold Coast lifestyle is expensive. $100k+ in credit card balances aren't unusual. High utilization tanks scores fast.
Million-Dollar Properties
Median home in Greenwich is $2M+. FHA limits cap at $636k, but we have NON-QM jumbo options with manual underwriting for higher amounts.
Bonus-Heavy Income
Finance compensation is complex — bonuses, deferred comp, carried interest. We know how to document and use this income when banks don't.
FHA Manual Underwriting
- Credit scores down to 500 FICO
- High-balance limit: $636,150
- No overlays on high utilization
- Bonus income accepted with 2-year history
VA Manual Underwriting
- No minimum credit score
- $0 down, no PMI
- No loan limit for eligible veterans
- Residual income favors high earners
Recent Closings in Fairfield County
FHA purchase — hedge fund analyst with $90k credit card debt. Denied by JP Morgan. Manual underwriting approved with strong bonus history.
Navy veteran, now in finance. Credit dropped during career transition. $0 down, no PMI, closed in 26 days.
Consolidated $85k credit cards. Monthly payments dropped $2,400. Score recovered to 725 in 5 months.
FHA & VA Loan Questions for Fairfield County
Can I get an FHA loan in Greenwich or Stamford with a 520 credit score?
Yes. We manually underwrite FHA loans down to 500 FICO in Greenwich, Stamford, Westport, Darien, and all of Fairfield County. Most banks won't go below 620.
What's the FHA loan limit in Fairfield County Connecticut?
For 2025, the FHA high-balance limit in Fairfield County is $636,150 for a single-family home — one of the highest in the country.
I work on Wall Street but live in CT. Can you help?
Absolutely. Many of our Fairfield County clients work in NYC. We understand bonus-heavy compensation, deferred comp, and the unique income structures of finance professionals.