Glossary
A request to view your credit report. Hard inquiries occur when you apply for credit and can temporarily lower your score. Soft inquiries do not affect your score.
In depth
Hard inquiries remain on your report for two years and may affect your score for up to 12 months. Soft inquiries — such as checking your own credit or lender pre-screening — are invisible to other lenders and have no score impact. Harbor Lenders routes requests using a soft inquiry approach so checking options does not affect your credit.
FAQs
Multiple hard inquiries in a short period can signal financial stress to lenders and may lower your score. Rate-shopping for the same loan type within a 14–45 day window is usually counted as a single inquiry by most scoring models.
Checking options through Harbor Lenders does not require a hard credit pull. No hard inquiry occurs until you formally apply with a specific lender.
Related terms
Hard Credit Pull
A credit inquiry initiated by a lender with your permission, typically when you formally apply for credit. Hard pulls appear on your credit report and can temporarily lower your score by a few points.
Read more →Soft Credit Pull
A credit check that does not affect your credit score. Soft pulls are used for pre-qualification, background checks, and personal credit reviews.
Read more →Credit Score
A three-digit number (typically 300–850) that summarizes a borrower's credit history and predicts the likelihood of repaying debt. Higher scores indicate lower risk to lenders.
Read more →FICO Score
The most widely used credit scoring model, developed by Fair Isaac Corporation. Scores range from 300 to 850.
Read more →One secure request. No hard credit pull. No cost to check.