Does mortgage pre-approval affect your credit score?

By never missing a payment and lowering your debt, you’ve taken the necessary steps to build a strong credit score. That’s because you know the better your credit score, the more likely you’ll be approved for a home loan at a lower interest rate. Now that you’re ready to buy a place of your own, you may be wondering if getting pre-approved for a mortgage will affect the credit score you’ve worked so hard to improve. Learn how mortgage pre-approval affects your credit score before starting your home search so you understand what to expect during the buying process.

You may have heard a credit check described as a hard or soft inquiry. Both are referring to the act of pulling your credit report to assess your financial behavior. However, there are significant differences between the two.

• Soft inquiry on your credit report

  When you or someone else checks your credit report but doesn’t submit a new application for credit, it’s considered a soft inquiry or “soft pull.” Examples include employers checking on potential new hires or credit card companies looking for pre-qualified customers. According to the credit reporting company Experian, these types of inquiries won’t affect your credit score.

• Hard inquiry on your credit report

  When you actively apply for a new line of credit, such as a credit card or an auto loan, the lender requests your credit report. Your credit score and the financial information on your credit report determine if you’ll be approved by the lender, as well as the terms of your loan. This credit pull is considered a hard inquiry or “hard pull.” Unlike soft inquiries, hard inquiries can negatively impact your credit score. “But the impact is typically small, and credit scores tend to rebound within a few months if no new negative information gets added to your credit report,” according to Experian.

Because the process involves submitting a mortgage loan application, there’s no way to avoid the hard credit inquiry triggered by the mortgage pre-approval process. To determine whether or not you qualify for a mortgage, an underwriter must evaluate your credit and look at your earnings, debt and savings.

Although getting pre-approved may be a slight ding to your credit score, the upside to losing a few points for a few months far outweighs the risks. Pre-approval is a conditional written commitment from your mortgage lender with the maximum loan amount you’re pre-approved to borrow. This is a critical step in the homebuying process because it provides clarity on the home you may be able to afford, as well as how much you may need for a down payment. Most sellers give preference to offers backed with pre-approval letters. You don’t want to lose a bidding war on your ideal home because you failed to get pre-approved. Guild’s Credit Approval Protection* program can also give your bid a boost because it gives added confidence in Guild’s pre-approval process. If Guild issues a preliminary underwriting credit approval and is then unable to close on the borrower’s loan, Guild will pay the borrower up to $1,000 for inspections, appraisals and relocation expenses incurred. Guild will also reimburse the borrower for their lost earnest money deposit, up to $5,000. From pre-approval to closing, Guild Mortgage advisors are here to guide you through your homebuying journey. Connect with an experienced loan officer today.