No.

A true mortgage pre-approval requires a lender to review your credit report. Your credit score affects the loan programs you qualify for, your interest rate, your monthly payment, and in some cases whether additional documentation is required.

Many lenders—including us—can perform a soft credit pull in certain situations. A soft pull can help us estimate where you stand and provide general guidance without affecting your credit score. However, a soft pull does not replace the hard credit inquiry required for a full mortgage pre-approval.

The good news is that a mortgage-related hard inquiry has much less impact than most people think. Credit scoring models recognize that homebuyers often shop with multiple lenders in a short period of time, so those inquiries are generally treated as a single shopping event rather than multiple separate inquiries.

If you’re serious about buying a home, a complete pre-approval provides the most accurate picture of your financing options and helps you shop with confidence.