This is the result of a ChatGPT inquiry. Feel free to pose the question to any AI tool.

“How much does a credit inquiry from a mortgage broker impact my credit score?”

Good question — and an important one if you’re shopping for a mortgage.

Here’s how it works in Canada (and the U.S. too, with some slight differences):

1. Type of inquiry

• Hard inquiry (hard pull): A mortgage broker’s credit check is considered a hard inquiry, which can temporarily lower your score.

• Soft inquiry (soft pull): Things like checking your own credit score or getting prequalified (without a full application) don’t affect your score.

2. Impact of a single mortgage inquiry

• Typically 5–10 points, sometimes less.

• The impact depends on your overall credit profile (thin credit files or lower scores may see a slightly bigger effect).

3. Rate shopping protection

Both Equifax and TransUnion recognize that people shop for mortgages:

• Canada: Multiple mortgage inquiries within 14 days are usually treated as one inquiry for scoring purposes.

• U.S. (FICO): The window is 14–45 days, depending on the scoring model.

This means you can work with more than one broker or lender within that period without your score being hit multiple times.

4. Duration of effect

• The small dip in your score usually recovers within a few months if everything else on your report is healthy.

• The inquiry itself will stay visible on your credit report for 3 years in Canada (2 years in the U.S.), but its effect on your score fades much sooner.

✅ Bottom line: A single mortgage inquiry has only a small, temporary effect on your score. As long as you cluster your mortgage shopping within a couple of weeks, the scoring models will treat them as one.