Is 673 a Good Equifax Score?

A 673 Equifax score sits in the middle of the 300‑850 scale, generally classified as 'fair' or 'average.' Lenders typically see it as acceptable but not a strong signal of creditworthiness, meaning you'll often qualify for credit while facing tighter terms than someone with a 'good' (700+) score. (See what is considered a good credit score for the full range.)

For example, a bank may approve a standard credit‑card application but limit the credit limit and exclude premium rewards. An auto‑loan officer might offer financing, yet the APR could land in the 7‑9% range instead of the sub‑5% rates reserved for higher scores. When you apply for a mortgage, you'll likely need a larger down payment or a co‑signer, and the interest rate may be 0.5‑1.0% higher than the best‑available rates. Insurance providers may also price policies slightly higher, reflecting the 'fair' rating. These scenarios illustrate what a 673 Equifax score typically means for everyday borrowing decisions.

Lenders view a 673 Equifax score as fair - borderline good enough for many products but still below the 'prime' threshold. They plug the number into automated risk models, then look at the surrounding credit profile to decide whether to approve, what rate to offer, and what additional conditions to impose.

Those models dissect the five FICO pillars: payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, credit mix, and new inquiries. Strong on‑time payments or a low utilization ratio can offset the middling score, while recent hard pulls or a short history may drag it down further.

Consequently, lenders typically require a higher interest rate, a larger down payment, or a co‑signer for a 673 Equifax score. Expect the next section to show which loans you're likely to qualify for based on this assessment, and consult Fannie Mae Desktop Underwriter guidelines for the exact cutoff ranges used on conventional mortgages.

A 673 Equifax score generally qualifies you for most mainstream loan products, though terms may be modest. Lenders typically view this score as fair, so you can expect approval on the following loan types:

• Secured or unsecured credit cards, usually with lower limits and APRs around 18‑24% (likely approved).
• Personal loans up to $10,000 from banks or online lenders, APRs typically 12‑22%; a co‑signer may improve the offer.
• Auto loans for new or used vehicles, loan‑to‑value ratios generally up to 80% and interest rates about 5‑9%.
• Mortgage options such as FHA or conventional loans that require a larger down payment, with 30‑year fixed rates roughly 5‑6%.
• Small‑business financing like SBA microloans or alternative lenders, amounts $5K‑$50K, rates usually 8‑12% when cash flow is solid.

With a 673 Equifax score you'll likely pay interest rates that sit a few percentage points above the best‑available rates for borrowers with scores 720 plus, because lenders view you as borderline good (see how lenders judge your 673 score). For a 30‑year fixed mortgage you can generally expect rates around 3.5 %‑4.5 % if prime is near 3 %; for a new‑car loan the APR typically lands in the 5 %‑7 % range versus 3 %‑4 % for excellent scores; credit‑card APRs usually fall between 15 % and 22 % rather than the low‑teens you'd see with a 720+ score; and personal loans often carry 9 %‑14 % interest compared with 5 %‑9 % for top‑tier credit.

Exact numbers depend on the lender, loan term, and your overall financial picture, so consider whether to apply now or wait to improve your score as outlined in the next section.

Apply now if you need financing within the next 30‑45 days and the loan amount is modest; wait to improve if you can postpone a larger loan and want lower rates.

When a purchase is time‑sensitive - such as a used‑car deal that expires in two weeks - or when a lender already offers a 673 Equifax score‑friendly product (as outlined in the 'how lenders judge your 673 score' section), a quick application avoids missed opportunities and the extra hard inquiry won't materially hurt a score that is already in the 'fair' range.

If you can defer a mortgage, student loan refinance, or any high‑balance credit line for three to six months, focusing on paying down revolving balances, correcting errors, and adding a mix of credit will likely lift the score above the 700 threshold, securing better interest rates and more loan options as discussed in the 'what interest rates you'll likely pay with 673' section.

Boost a 673 Equifax score quickly by paying down high balances, fixing errors, and adding a touch of new credit.

1. Trim revolving utilization - Reduce credit‑card balances to ≤ 30 % of each limit, ideally ≈ 10 %. Lower utilization shows lenders you manage credit responsibly and can lift the score within a month.
2. Lock in on‑time payments - Pay every bill by its due date for the next 12 months. Set up autopay or reminders; payment history accounts for about 35 % of the score.
3. Dispute inaccurate items - File disputes directly through the Equifax online dispute portal. Correcting errors can add 10‑20 points almost instantly.
4. Preserve old accounts - Keep long‑standing cards open, even if you use them sparingly. Length of credit history contributes roughly 15 % to the score; closing them can shrink the average age and hurt the number.
5. Introduce a positive credit mix - If you lack installment accounts, consider a secured credit card or a small credit‑builder loan. A diversified mix can improve the score by a few points once the new account shows consistent, on‑time payments.

These actions set the stage for the next section on spotting hidden report errors you might miss.

Typical errors that hide in a 673 Equifax score report include misspelled names, wrong addresses, duplicated accounts, outdated collections that should be removed, and balances that are reported higher than what the creditor actually charged. Lenders often overlook these glitches, so they can artificially depress your score and the loan options you'll likely see later in this article.

Pull your free annual report, scan each line for inconsistencies, and dispute any mistake through Equifax's online portal; correcting even one error can nudge the 673 score upward enough to improve the interest rates discussed in the next section. For step‑by‑step guidance, see what to do with credit report errors.

Raise your 673 Equifax score to 700 in 12 months by following this month‑by‑month roadmap.

Start with the fundamentals: pay every bill on time, keep credit utilization below 30 %, and verify that your report contains no errors. From there, layer targeted actions that compound each month.

• Month 1 - 2: Clean the slate - Pull your free Equifax report, dispute any inaccurate late‑payment marks, and set up automatic payments for all revolving and installment accounts.
• Month 3 - 4: Cut utilization - Reduce balances on credit cards to under 20 % of each limit; if needed, request a credit limit increase after a month of on‑time payments.
• Month 5 - 6: Add positive history - Open a secured credit card or become an authorized user on a trusted relative's account; keep usage below 10 % and pay it off each cycle.
• Month 7 - 8: Diversify responsibly - If you have only revolving credit, consider a small installment loan (e.g., a $1,000 credit‑builder loan) and make all payments punctually.
• Month 9 - 10: Optimize ratios - Re‑evaluate all accounts; close no old, positive accounts, but consider consolidating high‑interest cards into a single low‑rate balance‑transfer loan to further lower utilization.
• Month 11 - 12: Monitor and fine‑tune - Use a credit‑monitoring service to track score changes weekly; address any new negative marks immediately and maintain the habits built over the year.

By month 12, the combined effect of error removal, low utilization, added credit lines, and consistent on‑time payments generally pushes a 673 Equifax score into the 700 range. The next section explores unconventional lenders and tricks that can help you while you're still on this journey.

• Unconventional lenders such as credit unions, peer‑to‑peer platforms, and rent‑reporting services generally accept a 673 Equifax score, and a handful of tricks can improve your loan chances.
• Consider credit unions, which often approve a 673 score for personal loans at rates typically 1‑2% above prime (credit union lending overview).
• Explore peer‑to‑peer lending sites; a 673 score usually meets their minimum, leading to faster funding (peer‑to‑peer lending guide).
• Add rent and utility payments to your Equifax file through a reporting service; this trick typically lifts the effective score by 20‑30 points within months (rent reporting service benefits).
• Open a secured credit card from a community bank; the 673 score generally qualifies you, and responsible use quickly improves utilization (secured credit card basics).

A 673 Equifax score can open doors for some products while shutting them for others, depending on the lender's thresholds. For example, a borrower with a 673 score typically qualified for a conventional auto loan, receiving a 5‑year term at a 6.9% APR and secured a retail store credit card with a $1,000 limit, both of which accepted the score as 'good enough' for standard underwriting.

Conversely, the same score often hurt the same person when applying for a first‑time mortgage; most banks generally require at least a 700 score for conventional loans, so the applicant was either denied or forced into an FHA loan with a higher 5.5% - 6.5% rate and additional mortgage insurance.

A personal loan request from an online lender also resulted in a 12% APR - significantly above the 8% - 9% range typical for scores above 720 - illustrating how the 673 score can raise borrowing costs.

When the borrower turned to a credit‑union partner that uses alternative data, the 673 score was enough to secure a small‑business line of credit at a 7.2% rate, showing that unconventional lenders can still work with this score. This experience sets up the next section on 'unconventional lenders and tricks that help you with 673.'