Lesson · Facts first · Free
Hard inquiries — small, temporary, but stackable
One inquiry costs a few points. Six in a month is a different story. Here is the actual math.
The facts
- 01A hard inquiry typically costs fewer than five points and remains on your report for two years — but FICO scoring only considers inquiries from the last 12 months.
- 02Rate-shopping for one loan (mortgage, auto, student) is treated as a single inquiry when done in a focused window — 45 days for newer FICO versions, 14 days for older ones. Apply for the same type of loan within that window.
- 03Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry — it never affects your score. Pre-qualification offers are soft too.
- 04The inquiry matters less than what it predicts: several new revolving accounts opened in months before a mortgage application is the pattern underwriters and scoring models flag.
Sources
- myFICO — Credit inquiries: https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/credit-inquiries
- Experian — Hard vs soft inquiries: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/hard-inquiries-vs-soft-inquiries/
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Disclaimer: Educational information only — not credit repair, legal, or financial advice. You can always dispute items yourself for free directly with the bureaus.