Credit & qualifying
Hard credit inquiry
Also called: Hard pull, Hard inquiry
In short
A hard inquiry is a lender's credit check made when you apply. Shopping several mortgage lenders in a short window generally counts as a single inquiry.
A hard inquiry (or hard pull) is a credit check a lender runs, with your authorization, when you apply for credit. It can have a small, temporary effect on your credit score, unlike a soft inquiry such as checking your own report.
Credit-scoring models generally treat multiple mortgage inquiries within a short shopping window as a single event, so comparing several lenders' offers doesn't multiply the impact the way it might seem to.
The takeaway for buyers: don't avoid comparing mortgage offers out of fear of your score — shop within a focused window, and be more cautious about opening unrelated new credit while you're in process.
Related
Current as of August 2026.