Yes, a pre-approval is a hard inquiry. Applying for a pre-approval through a mortgage lender is a standard step in the mortgage approval process because it involves lenders looking at more detailed information. Because lenders give loans for large amounts of money, hard inquiry credit checks are routine.
Seeking mortgage preapproval before shopping for a home can save time and give you an edge over rival buyers who haven't done so. But because it is essentially the same as a loan application, the preapproval process triggers a credit check that can reduce your credit score by a few points.
Getting prequalified is a relatively quick and easy process. You, the mortgage applicant, provide a few financial details to a mortgage lender. The lender uses this unverified information, usually along with a soft credit pull, to let you know approximately how much you may be able to borrow and at what terms.
Credit reporting companies recognize that many people shop around for a mortgage, so even if a lender uses a hard credit check for your pre-approval, there won't be any further impact to your credit score if you complete multiple mortgage pre-approvals within 45 days.
Hard inquiries are common when you apply for a mortgage, auto loan loan, personal loan, student loan, or a credit card. Soft inquiries occur when a person or entity checks your credit as part of a background check. Unlike hard inquiries, soft inquiries will not negatively affect your credit scores.
A soft inquiry, sometimes known as a soft credit check or soft credit pull, happens when you or someone you authorize (like a potential employer) checks your credit report. They can also happen when a company such as a credit card issuer or mortgage lender checks your credit to preapprove you for an offer.
Lenders typically do last-minute checks of their borrowers' financial information in the week before the loan closing date, including pulling a credit report and reverifying employment.
Credit Scores: Hard Vs Soft Inquiries
When a consumer fills out an application that accompanies a pre-approved offer, the lender will sometimes use the soft inquiry that has already been pulled to make its decision, or it may pull a new report using a hard inquiry. A soft inquiry is seen only by the consumer.
To prequalify you for a loan, lenders check your credit report, but conduct a “soft” inquiry, or soft pull, in which they prescreen your report without it affecting your score.
Getting pre-approved is the first step in your journey of buying a home. But even with a pre-approval, a mortgage can be denied if there are changes to your credit history or financial situation. Working with buyers, we know how heartbreaking it can be to find out your mortgage has been denied days before closing.
How long it takes to get preapproved can vary by lender. It could take as little as a few minutes to get a basic preapproval to 24 hours or 10 days or more. If you're in a time crunch, make sure you find out how long the preapproval process takes with each of the lenders you're considering.
A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.
Loan pre-approval without a hard inquiry is a great option if you are still shopping around for lenders and you do not wish for every loan request to show up on your credit score. This way, you will be able to see your options without any risks—therefore increasing your chances of getting your best loan approved.
Unlike pre-qualification, preapproval requires proof of your debt, income, assets, and credit score and history. To get preapproved, you'll supply documentation such as pay stubs, tax records and proof of assets.
Pre-approval letters typically include the purchase price, loan program, interest rate, loan amount, down payment amount, expiration date, and property address.
A question many buyers have is whether a lender pulls your credit more than once during the purchase process. The answer is yes. Lenders pull borrowers' credit at the beginning of the approval process, and then again just prior to closing.
Here's the short answer: Most lenders who offer FHA loans will check your credit score at least twice. They do an initial pull shortly after you apply for financing, and they often do a second pull just before the scheduled closing day.
Can a mortgage be denied after the closing disclosure is issued? Yes. Many lenders use third-party “loan audit” companies to validate your income, debt and assets again before you sign closing papers. If they discover major changes to your credit, income or cash to close, your loan could be denied.
For the majority of general lending decisions, such as personal loans and credit cards, lenders use your FICO Score. Your FICO Score is calculated by the data analytics company Fair Isaac Corporation, and it's based on data from your credit reports. VantageScore, another scoring model, is a well-known alternative.
For many lenders, six inquiries are too many to be approved for a loan or bank card. Even if you have multiple hard inquiries on your report in a short period of time, you may be spared negative consequences if you are shopping for a specific type of loan.
Hard inquiries CAN hurt your credit score
Hard inquiries are necessary for certain financial actions, such as applying for a loan or credit card, but they should be minimized. A hard inquiry might lower your credit score by several points and will remain on your credit report for up to two years.
To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, the type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.
A FICO Score between 740 and 850 is generally considered to be in the very good to excellent credit score range to buy a home. If your score falls below this level, however, you may still be eligible for some mortgage opportunities in the financial marketplace.
Consequently, when lenders check your FICO credit score, whether based on credit report data from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, they will likely use the FICO 8 scoring model. FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score.
Pay Off Debts
When determining how much you can borrow, a lender will look at your monthly debt payments. If you have an extensive monthly debt burden, your preapproval amount will be lower. But if you can eliminate some of these debts from your books, then a lender may be willing to increase your preapproval amount.