Credit Checks: Soft Pulls, Hard Pulls & Shopping Windows
As we head into a busier season, I thought this would be a great time to share a quick refresher on credit inquiries. This is something that comes up a lot — and can be confusing if you don't deal with it every day.
What Is a Soft Pull?
A soft pull is the most common type of credit check — it's what you'll see on free credit monitoring sites like Credit Karma or CreditWise. A soft pull:
- Does not impact your credit score
- Is not visible to other lenders
- Is often used for educational or pre-qualification purposes
A Quick Note About Online Credit Scores
Tracking your credit score online is a helpful habit and I always encourage it. Just keep in mind that most free monitoring tools show a score from one bureau and use a different scoring model than what mortgage lenders use. Mortgage lending looks at all three bureaus and uses older, industry-specific models. Your online score is great for spotting trends early — just take it as a snapshot, not the full picture.
What Is a Hard Pull?
A hard pull happens when you apply for new credit, such as a mortgage, an auto loan, or a new credit card. Hard pulls are visible to other creditors, and each one can lower your score slightly — usually 2–5 points, depending on your overall credit profile. Too many in a short period can signal that you're taking on a lot of new debt.
Why the Phone Starts Ringing
After a hard inquiry, your info can be flagged as "active" — which is usually when the unsolicited calls begin. Credit bureaus are allowed to sell this information as a "trigger lead," alerting other lenders that you're actively shopping. Some pay for those leads and immediately reach out, often with pressure tactics. These companies are not affiliated with your lender. Opting out ahead of time makes a big difference — more on that below.
Are Shopping Windows Real?
Short answer: yes — but with some fine print. When shopping for a mortgage or auto loan, credit scoring models typically allow a shopping window of about 14–45 days. To be safe, assume 14 days.
- Multiple mortgage inquiries within the window = 1 inquiry
- Multiple auto loan inquiries within the window = 1 inquiry
- Mortgage + auto loan = 2 separate inquiries
This window does not apply to credit cards or personal loans — those count individually.
Quick recap:
- Auto + auto (within 14 days) = 1 inquiry
- Mortgage + mortgage (within 14 days) = 1 inquiry
- Mortgage + auto = 2 inquiries
Don't Skip the Opt-Out
The best thing you can do right now is opt out of trigger leads yourself. It's quick, free, and can save you a lot of stress.
OptOutPrescreen.com — stops pre-screened offers for credit and insurance. Takes a few days to go into effect, so don't wait. You can opt back in later if you change your mind.
National Do Not Call Registry — another solid layer of protection against unsolicited marketing calls.
As always, feel free to reach out with questions or share this with anyone who could use a little clarity around credit.