Does shopping for a mortgage hurt your credit? The 14- and 45-day rules

6 min read · LenderMatch Learn

Usually not by much. Checking rates with a soft inquiry has no effect on your score, and when mortgage lenders run hard inquiries, FICO and VantageScore count several made within a short shopping window as a single inquiry. For most people, that one inquiry takes less than five points off a FICO score, according to myFICO.

The catch is the window. It is 14 days on some scoring models and 45 days on others, and you usually can't tell which one your lender uses. Below is how each rule works, how long inquiries stay on your report, and a simple way to compare lenders without guessing.

One more thing before you start: LenderMatch never pulls your credit, so you can line up lenders to compare before any of them checks it.

Does checking mortgage rates affect your credit score?

It depends on which kind of credit check happens. There are two.

• Soft inquiry. Checking your own credit report or score is a soft inquiry. myFICO says soft inquiries do not affect your FICO Scores.
• Hard inquiry. When you apply for credit, the lender checks your report and that check is recorded as an inquiry. The CFPB says a mortgage credit check is a required part of an application and that an inquiry "typically has a small negative effect" on your scores.

Many early rate conversations happen before any hard inquiry. A lender can talk through rough numbers with you, and some may check your credit with a soft inquiry first. A full mortgage application is where the hard inquiry usually comes in. If you're not sure which kind a lender plans to run, ask before you give permission.

The mortgage rate shopping window: 14 days or 45 days?

Credit scoring models know that someone comparing mortgage lenders is shopping for one loan, not taking on five. So they group mortgage inquiries that land close together. The length of that group depends on the model:

• Newer FICO Score versions: any 45-day span counts as one inquiry (myFICO).
• Older FICO Score versions: any 14-day span counts as one inquiry (myFICO).
• VantageScore 4.0: inquiries within a 14-day window count as a single inquiry (VantageScore).
• 30-day buffer (FICO): FICO Scores ignore mortgage, auto and student loan inquiries made in the 30 days before the score is calculated. If you find a loan within 30 days, those inquiries won't affect the score the lender sees while you're shopping (myFICO).

The CFPB's own guidance uses the 45-day figure: multiple credit checks from mortgage lenders are recorded as a single inquiry as long as the last check is within 45 days of the first, no matter how many lenders you consult.

Which window applies to you?

That depends on the score your lender pulls, and lenders choose. myFICO says the FICO versions most often used in mortgage lending are FICO Score 2, 4 and 5. And since September 9, 2026, every Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac approved lender may use VantageScore 4.0 instead of Classic FICO, choosing loan by loan (FHFA). Because you usually won't know in advance which model a lender will use, the safe plan is simple: keep your hard mortgage inquiries inside 14 days. That fits every window above.

How many points does a hard inquiry take off your credit score?

For most people, one additional credit inquiry takes less than five points off their FICO Scores (myFICO). The CFPB describes the effect as small. The exact number depends on the rest of your credit file.

The CFPB adds that shopping around can still be worth it even if one check lands outside the window, because the effect of one more inquiry is small.

How long do hard inquiries stay on your credit report?

Hard inquiries can stay on your credit report for up to two years, but FICO Scores only consider inquiries from the last 12 months (myFICO). After a year, an old mortgage inquiry no longer counts in your FICO Score, even though it may still appear on the report itself.

Example: three lenders, one inquiry

Say you want to refinance a $300,000 balance into a 30-year fixed loan, and you apply with three lenders:

• November 3: Lender A runs a hard inquiry.
• November 10: Lender B runs a hard inquiry.
• November 14: Lender C runs a hard inquiry.

The first and last checks are 11 days apart. That is inside the 14-day window and the 45-day window, so every model above treats the three as one inquiry. If Lender C had checked on December 5 instead (32 days after the first), a 45-day FICO model would still count one inquiry, but a 14-day model could count two.

Now the other side of the scale. Freddie Mac's average 30-year fixed rate was 7.40% for the week of October 15, 2026. On $300,000 over 30 years:

• At 7.40%, principal and interest is about $2,077 a month.
• At 7.65%, a quarter point higher, it is about $2,129 a month.

That quarter point is roughly $51 a month, about $3,084 over five years and about $18,505 over the full 30 years. These figures are simple loan math for illustration, not a rate quote; your rate depends on your credit, equity and loan type. But the comparison shows why the CFPB encourages shopping: a few points of score for a few months is small next to a rate difference you pay every month. You can run your own numbers in the refinance calculator or the mortgage calculator.

How to shop for a mortgage without hurting your credit

1. Check your own credit first. Looking at your own report or score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score, and it shows you what lenders will see.
2. Talk to lenders before you authorize a hard pull. Compare rough options, then ask each lender whether its next step is a soft or hard inquiry.
3. Group your applications. Once you're ready, submit full applications within 14 days of each other.
4. Hold off on other credit. The CFPB notes that applying for a credit card, car loan or other loan during the mortgage process adds a separate inquiry that can lower your scores. Those don't get grouped with your mortgage inquiries.
5. Compare written offers. The CFPB suggests requesting Loan Estimates from three or more lenders. Our guide to how lender matching works covers what to compare on each one.

Not sure refinancing is worth it at all? Start with when refinancing makes sense. If you're weighing a home equity line instead, see cash-out refinance vs. HELOC.

Does LenderMatch pull your credit?

No. LenderMatch never pulls your credit. When you submit a request, you give the participating lenders matched to it permission to check your credit with a soft inquiry, which does not affect your score. A hard inquiry happens only if you choose a lender, apply, and authorize that lender to check your credit. You can compare first and decide later.

Frequently asked questions

Does getting a mortgage quote hurt your credit?

A quote by itself usually doesn't. Talking through numbers or a soft inquiry has no effect on your score. A hard inquiry, which usually comes with a full application, can lower a FICO score slightly, typically less than five points for most people.

Will multiple mortgage applications hurt my credit more than one?

Not if they fall inside the shopping window. Mortgage inquiries within 14 days count as one under older FICO versions and VantageScore 4.0, and newer FICO versions allow 45 days.

How long does a hard inquiry stay on my credit report?

Up to two years. FICO Scores only count inquiries from the last 12 months.

Does checking my own credit score lower it?

No. Checking your own score or report is a soft inquiry and does not affect your FICO Scores.

Should I avoid other credit applications while I shop for a mortgage?

Yes. The CFPB advises against applying for credit cards, car loans or other loans right before or during the mortgage process, because each one adds its own inquiry.

Does LenderMatch check my credit?

No. LenderMatch never pulls your credit. Matched lenders may use a soft inquiry, which does not affect your score, and a lender you choose runs a hard inquiry only with your permission when you apply.