Things needed to get pre-approved for a Kentucky USDA Rural Housing Loan. 1 What kind of credit score. USDA does not have minimum credit scores but most lenders will create overlays so as they don't get shut off from the USDA dept from issuing mortgage loans. USDA uses an online system, called GUS, to evaluate the credit portion of the loan approval. Credit scores, bankruptcies or foreclosures, collections, trades lines are all reviewed for credit worthiness. USDA use to have a minimum tradeline requirement of 2 trades for 12 months but this was changed at the first of 2020. Credit scores under 640 will automatically receive a refer, meaning it will be more difficult to get approved for the mortgage loan. I have seen credit scores below that get pre-approved, but it is very difficult to get approved below that. 3 year removed from Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and foreclosure. 2. Gather your documents--- USDA will want the following...