Getting ready to pre-qualify for a first time homeowners mortgage. Would like to do multiple online pre-qualify apps at different sites to compare Good Faith Estimates.

Couldn't locate it in a site search, but I remember there was a rule as to how a FICO score / credit report would be affected when it's accessed multiple times from various lenders in regards to mortgage shopping. Anyone know the rule?

Regards,
roboson

Anything credit-related, head to Creditboards.com

Many realtors will show you homes without pre-qualification letter nowadays. Time has changed, if you find the one that requires one, move on. As long as you can juggle the numbers (figure out how much you really going to qualify reasonably) and know where your credit stands, you can get all pre-qualification after finding a home. My coworker put an offer on a townhome without preapproval (with condition that she would provide the seller with preapproval 48 hours after offer was accepted). After the offer was accepted, she applied for mortgage. The seller did accepted the offer and she had closed on her townhome. This way you will not get locked specific timeframe before they have to repull your credit again which can decrease the score.