Does Equifax Mortgage Hard Inquiry Hurt Credit?

An Equifax mortgage hard inquiry is a credit‑pull a lender makes when you submit a mortgage application; it shows up on your Equifax credit report as a hard inquiry, remains for 24 months, and typically affects your credit score for the first 12 months, unless the pulls occur within the 45‑day mortgage‑shopping window, in which case they are treated as a single inquiry.

For example, a borrower with a 740 score might see a 5‑point dip after one hard inquiry, while a borrower with a 620 score could drop 15‑20 points. If three lenders request pulls over a 30‑day period, Equifax counts them as one inquiry, so the score impact stays at the same 5‑10‑point range. A single hard inquiry during the first year can shave a few percentage points off an APR offer, but the effect fades after 12 months and the record disappears after 24 months. See the next section on how much a mortgage hard inquiry usually drops your score for precise figures.

Typically a mortgage hard inquiry knocks 5‑10 points off your Equifax credit score, though borrowers with sub‑prime scores may see a 10‑20‑point dip because each point matters more near the bottom of the scale; the hit shows up in scoring models for about 12 months but the inquiry itself stays on your report for 24 months, and if you shop for mortgages within the standard 45‑day window the pulls are treated as one inquiry, limiting the overall impact.

A mortgage hard inquiry stays on your Equifax credit report for 24 months, but it usually only drags your credit score down during the first 12 months. If you submit multiple applications within the 45‑day mortgage‑shopping window, they are treated as a single inquiry for scoring purposes (see Equifax credit inquiry guidelines).

Because the score impact fades after a year, the inquiry becomes a harmless line item for the remaining year. This timing explains why, as we'll discuss next, several mortgage pulls often count as one when you're rate‑shopping.

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• Scoring models treat all mortgage hard inquiries made within a 45‑day window as a single inquiry because they assume you're rate‑shopping, not taking new debt.
• The Equifax credit report logs each pull, but the algorithm collapses them into one event when calculating your credit score.
• This 'one‑count' rule applies only if the pulls target the same loan type (a primary‑residence mortgage) and occur inside the shopping period.
• After the window closes, any additional mortgage hard inquiry beyond the first is scored separately and can lower the score again.
• The single‑count treatment protects shoppers; therefore the usual 5‑10‑point dip described earlier stays the same no matter how many lenders you contact during that period.

A mortgage hard inquiry appears on all three bureaus, but scoring models treat the multiple bureau reports as a single inquiry, so you can shop without multiplying score damage.

1. Stay inside the 45‑day shopping window - All hard pulls for the same mortgage within 45 days count as one inquiry on your Equifax credit report.
2. Start with soft‑pull pre‑qualification - Lenders that offer a soft credit check let you compare rates without any hard inquiry. Soft‑pull pre‑qualification explained.
3. Request a single‑source pull - Ask the lender to pull your file from one bureau only. The inquiry still registers as a hard pull, but only one set of bureau reports is created, avoiding duplicate entries.
4. Prioritize a short list of lenders - Choose three to five credible lenders based on rates and fees, then submit applications consecutively within the shopping window. Fewer applications reduce paperwork and confusion.
5. Monitor your Equifax report for errors - After each pull, check the report; if an inquiry is listed incorrectly or duplicated, dispute it immediately to keep your score accurate.

You can start the pre‑qualification process without triggering a mortgage hard inquiry by using lenders that rely on soft pulls or self‑reported data.

• Soft‑pull pre‑qualification portals - many banks and credit unions let you enter basic info (income, debt, loan amount) and then perform a soft inquiry on your Equifax credit report; no hard pull appears on your report.
• Rate‑quote tools - online services such as Equifax soft credit inquiry tools give you an estimated rate based on the data you supply, without touching your credit file.
• Self‑reported pre‑approval - some lenders accept documentation (pay stubs, tax returns) and issue a pre‑approval letter before any hard pull; the hard inquiry only occurs when you move to a formal application.
• Mortgage brokers with soft‑pull agreements - brokers can request a 'soft‑pull pre‑qualification' from multiple lenders, consolidating the request so it counts as one inquiry in the 45‑day shopping window.
• Credit‑score simulators - using a simulator that estimates how a loan would affect your score lets you gauge eligibility without any inquiry at all.

These soft‑pull options let you gauge affordability and lock in rates while keeping your credit untouched, setting the stage for the later discussion on when a hard inquiry actually harms approval odds.

A mortgage hard inquiry hurts your approval odds when it pushes your credit score into a lower risk tier or adds to a pattern of recent pulls.

The impact spikes if you:

• have a score below 620 (typically considered subprime) - see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau definition of subprime;
• have taken more than one mortgage hard inquiry outside the 45‑day shopping window;
• have seen a recent dip of 20 points or more from other hard pulls;
• carry a debt‑to‑income ratio above 45 % and the new loan would raise it further;
• are close to the 24‑month expiration limit and the inquiry remains visible on your Equifax credit report.

In those situations the modest 5‑10‑point drop discussed earlier translates into a higher perceived risk, prompting lenders to tighten approval criteria or request additional documentation.

Mortgage hard inquiries affect borrowers differently depending on where their credit score sits.

If your Equifax credit score sits in the sub‑prime range (around 600 - 660), the inquiry usually knocks 20 - 40 points off your score. That dip can push you into a higher‑risk bracket, raise the interest rate you're offered, and in extreme cases make a lender reject your application.

If your score lands in the prime or super‑prime tier (720 +), the same inquiry typically trims only 5 - 10 points. Because you remain well above the risk threshold, lenders rarely adjust rates, and the impact fades after the usual 12‑month scoring window.

(See FICO score impact study for detailed point‑drop data.)

Equifax doesn't have a special rule for mortgage hard inquiry  -  it follows the industry‑wide 45‑day mortgage shopping window that groups any pulls made for the same loan into one entry on your Equifax credit report.

 If you request quotes from three lenders within that period, the bureaus record a single mortgage hard inquiry for scoring purposes, just as Experian and TransUnion do (45‑day mortgage inquiry window).

The consolidated inquiry typically lowers your credit score only a few points and the impact fades after about 12 months, although the record stays on the report for up to 24 months. This treatment matches the explanation in the previous section on why multiple pulls often count as one, and it sets the stage for the tactics later in the article for safe lender shopping.

A 673 Equifax score can open doors for some products while shutting them for others, depending on the lender's thresholds. For example, a borrower with a 673 score typically qualified for a conventional auto loan, receiving a 5‑year term at a 6.9% APR and secured a retail store credit card with a $1,000 limit, both of which accepted the score as 'good enough' for standard underwriting.

Conversely, the same score often hurt the same person when applying for a first‑time mortgage; most banks generally require at least a 700 score for conventional loans, so the applicant was either denied or forced into an FHA loan with a higher 5.5% - 6.5% rate and additional mortgage insurance.

A personal loan request from an online lender also resulted in a 12% APR - significantly above the 8% - 9% range typical for scores above 720 - illustrating how the 673 score can raise borrowing costs.

When the borrower turned to a credit‑union partner that uses alternative data, the 673 score was enough to secure a small‑business line of credit at a 7.2% rate, showing that unconventional lenders can still work with this score. This experience sets up the next section on 'unconventional lenders and tricks that help you with 673.'

If Equifax has recorded a mortgage hard inquiry you never authorized, dispute it immediately.

1. Pull your Equifax credit report. Locate the disputed mortgage inquiry, note the date and creditor name, and save a PDF for reference.
2. Collect supporting evidence. Gather any loan applications, lender correspondence, or identity‑theft reports that prove you did not request the pull.
3. Submit a dispute. Use the Equifax credit dispute portal or mail a concise letter naming the inquiry, attaching copies of your evidence, and requesting removal.
4. Monitor the investigation. Equifax must complete the review within 30 days and send you results. If they find the inquiry inaccurate, it is deleted and your credit score rebounds in the next scoring cycle.
5. Escalate if needed. Should Equifax reject your claim, contact the lender for a correction letter or file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.