Soft Credit Pull Vs. Hard Credit Pull

Mortgage pre-approvals typically involve a soft credit pull. This is because lenders take a quick look at your credit profile but without affecting your credit score. It helps the lenders estimate how much you might qualify for towards the purchase of your property but without making a formal commitment.

However, once you move forward with an actual mortgage application, then a hard credit pull is required. This can possibly slightly lower your credit score, but it's a necessary step for the lenders to take in order to assess your full financial picture.

A stronger preapproval is one that gives you a more solid commitment from the lender, and therefore typically involves a hard credit pull. This is because the lender needs to thoroughly assess your financial situation before offering a more reliable preapproval amount.

Thus, a soft credit pull is often used for initial prequalification, where lenders get a general idea of your creditworthiness without affecting your credit score. But if you want a stronger preapproval, you can expect a hard inquiry with your credit pull, which may slightly impact your credit score.