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Credit Check Options
Understanding the difference between soft and hard credit inquiries — and what happens to your credit when you apply for a mortgage.
Soft Credit Checks
A soft inquiry (also called a soft pull) does not affect your credit score. It is used for background checks, pre-qualification estimates, and when you check your own credit. Soft pulls are not visible to other lenders and have no impact on your score.
Hard Credit Checks
A hard inquiry (also called a hard pull) occurs when a lender formally reviews your credit as part of a loan application. Hard inquiries may temporarily lower your score by a few points and remain on your credit report for two years, though their impact diminishes over time.
Mortgage Applications and Your Credit
Applying for a mortgage requires a hard credit pull. However, credit scoring models recognize that consumers shop for the best rate. Multiple mortgage inquiries within a short window — typically 14 to 45 days depending on the scoring model — are often treated as a single inquiry for scoring purposes. Shopping multiple lenders within a focused timeframe is generally not harmful to your credit.
Checking Your Own Credit
Checking your own credit report or score is always a soft inquiry and never affects your score. You are entitled to free credit reports from all three major bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing your reports before applying for a mortgage is a smart step — errors are more common than most people expect, and disputing inaccuracies takes time.
Questions about your credit and mortgage options?
This page is for educational purposes only. Credit scoring models and lender practices vary. Courtney Wright | NMLS# 1059199 | Innovative Mortgage Services, Inc. | NMLS# 250769 | Equal Housing Lender.