Yes. FreeMortgageSearch.com compares mortgage options using NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull mortgage process, so there is no hard inquiry and no credit score hit at the comparison stage. A soft pull is not a formal approval, though. It gives you realistic options to weigh, and a full credit review comes later, only if you decide to move forward.
This article, written by Duane Buziak NMLS#1110647, explains what a soft pull is and where it stops, and what a formal pre-approval still requires. It also covers how a broker with access to hundreds of wholesale lenders can compare options a single company’s shelf cannot. Mortgage pre-approval without a hard pull is possible at the shopping stage, and knowing exactly what that does and does not give you keeps you from making decisions on false assumptions.
How a Soft Pull Mortgage Comparison Works Without a Hard Inquiry
Credit inquiries come in two types. A soft inquiry happens when you check your own credit or when a company looks at your file for a non-lending purpose, and it is visible only to you and does not factor into your score. A hard inquiry is recorded when a creditor evaluates you for a specific loan or line of credit, and scoring models may count it. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s mortgage resources explain how credit checks fit into the home loan process and why shopping around is encouraged.
NoTouch Credit Pull applies the soft-inquiry side of that distinction to mortgage comparison. The sequence is short:
- Enter basic information. You provide details such as your estimated credit profile, income range, purchase price or home value, and down payment or equity.
- Authorize a soft check. You give permission for a soft credit look, which does not register as a loan application on your report.
- Receive comparison results. You see estimated options drawn from across Duane Buziak’s wholesale lender network, rather than one company’s product list.
- Decide what happens next. You can walk away, keep comparing, or ask for guidance on moving toward a formal application.
There is no obligation at any step. Nothing in this process requires you to commit to a loan, a rate lock, or a conversation you did not ask for.
It helps to be precise about the claim. A no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval step does not exist in the sense of a final approval. What exists is a soft-pull comparison that lets you narrow your choices and understand likely terms before any formal credit pull is made. That is a smaller promise than “approved with no credit check,” and it is the accurate one.
Soft-Pull Comparison vs. Formal Pre-Approval: What Changes and When
A soft-pull comparison produces estimated options. A formal pre-approval letter typically involves verified documents, such as pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements, along with a full credit review that can involve a hard inquiry. Exactly when that happens and what is reviewed varies by loan program and by the broker’s process, so treat any timeline you read online, including this one, as general.
Three terms that are not interchangeable
- Pre-qualified: an early estimate of what you might borrow, based on information you report, with little or no verification.
- Pre-approved: a stronger statement based on verified documents and a full credit review, usually shown in a letter you can give a seller.
- Approved: a final decision on a specific property, issued after underwriting reviews the file, appraisal, and title work.
Many people hear “pre-approval” and assume the process is done. A pre-approval letter is conditional, and it can change if your income, debts, credit, or the property change. Likewise, a soft-pull comparison should never be read as a pre-approval.
The stage-based path
The sensible order is to compare first with a soft pull, choose a direction (loan type, rough price range, rate structure), and move to a full application only when you are ready to make an offer or lock terms. That sequence means the hard inquiry happens once you have a reason for it, not while you are still exploring.
Everything shown at the comparison stage is an estimate. It is not an indication of loan qualification, loan approval, or a commitment to lend.
Why Shopping Within a Window Matters: Scoring Rules for Multiple Hard Inquiries
Rate shopping is not penalized the way many people fear. Common scoring models generally treat multiple mortgage inquiries made within a short shopping window as a single inquiry, because borrowers are comparing offers for one loan, not taking on several. The window length depends on the model. According to CFPB guidance, it can be as short as 14 days or as long as 45, depending on which scoring model is used. You can read more in the CFPB’s Owning a Home materials, and you should confirm current details with the scoring model’s publisher as of 2026.
The practical takeaway is to keep your formal applications close together in time. Because you cannot always know which model a particular creditor uses, the conservative approach is to finish your hard-inquiry comparisons inside the shortest window.
NoTouch Credit Pull helps here by moving the narrowing step earlier. If a soft-pull comparison shows you which two or three directions are realistic, you may need fewer formal pulls later than you would if you started by applying everywhere. Fewer pulls means less to track and less to explain.
What soft inquiries do not do
- They do not lower your credit score.
- They do not commit you to a loan, a lock, or a conversation with a loan officer.
- They do not count as a loan application for scoring purposes.
Broker Independence vs. a Single Shelf: What Your Soft-Pull Comparison Actually Compares
The credit check type is only half of the picture. The other half is what the comparison is made of. Duane Buziak works as a broker with access to hundreds of wholesale lenders, so the options a comparison surfaces come from many underwriting guidelines and pricing sheets. A single company that originates its own loans can show you only its own product shelf. That is a structural difference, not a judgment about quality, and a direct company can be a good fit for some borrowers.
The table below sets out the differences in neutral terms. The single-company examples are Rocket Mortgage, Movement Mortgage, Guild Mortgage, NFM Lending, and Alcova Mortgage. Their specific practices vary and can change, so confirm each with the company directly.
| Feature | FreeMortgageSearch.com via broker | Single-company direct lender (e.g., Rocket Mortgage, Movement Mortgage, Guild Mortgage, NFM Lending, Alcova Mortgage) | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit check at comparison stage | NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull with no hard inquiry | Varies by company and by stage; some steps may use a hard inquiry | “Will this step show as a hard inquiry on my report?” |
| Product range | Programs from hundreds of wholesale lenders | That company’s own loan programs | “Which programs can you offer for my situation?” |
| Rate and fee comparison | Pricing compared across multiple wholesale sources | Pricing from one company’s rate sheet | “Can I see the rate, points, and fees side by side?” |
| Rate lock guidance | Lock timing discussed with a broker who can see several options | Lock terms follow that company’s policies | “What lock periods are available, and what do they cost?” |
| Obligation | None at the comparison stage | Varies; confirm before submitting information | “Am I committing to anything by proceeding?” |
| Process after comparison | Choose a direction, then a full application only when ready | Typically continues into that company’s application and underwriting | “What is the next step, and when is a hard pull needed?” |
Dare to Compare
If you already hold a Loan Estimate from another company, bring it. Duane Buziak’s Dare to Compare invitation is to set that document next to what the tool surfaces and go line by line: interest rate, points, lender-origination charges, third-party fees, and the estimated cash needed at closing. A Loan Estimate uses a standard format, which makes the comparison straightforward.
A Worked Example: Comparing Two Offers Using Real Numbers
This is an illustration, not a quote. Suppose you are comparing two offers on a $400,000 loan with a 30-year fixed term (360 payments).
- Offer A at 6.50%: principal and interest of $2,528.27 per month.
- Offer B at 6.25%: principal and interest of $2,462.87 per month.
The difference is $65.40 per month. Over all 360 payments, Offer A costs $910,177.20 in principal and interest and Offer B costs $886,633.20, a gap of $23,544.00.
Now add fees. Suppose Offer B carries $3,000 in additional upfront costs, such as discount points, to get the lower rate. Divide the extra cost by the monthly savings: $3,000 / $65.40 = about 45.9, or roughly 46 months. If you expect to keep the loan and the home longer than about four years, the lower rate pays back the added cost. If you might sell or refinance sooner, Offer A could cost you less overall.
Break-even is a useful first filter, but it ignores taxes, insurance, and what you could do with the $3,000 elsewhere. It also assumes the rest of the loan terms are identical.
Rate and APR disclosure: These figures are for illustration only and are not a rate quote or an offer of credit. Rates change daily and depend on credit profile, loan amount, property, and loan program. The annual percentage rate (APR) reflects certain fees as well as the interest rate, so two loans with the same rate can have different APRs. Payments shown are principal and interest only. If cash at closing is a concern, ask about no-out-of-pocket closing options, which depend on the rate, the loan program, and who pays which charges.
Licensed States, Loan Programs, and a Data Point to Anchor Your Comparison
Duane Buziak is licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, and MD. FreeMortgageSearch.com is national in scope, built for buyers and homeowners across those licensed states, and the comparison logic does not change from one to the next. If you are outside those states, check licensing before sharing any information.
Loan size is the first filter that shapes what you see. For 2026, the Federal Housing Finance Agency set the baseline conforming loan limit for one-unit properties at $832,750, with a ceiling of $1,249,125 in high-cost areas, as announced in the FHFA’s conforming loan limit announcement. Limits vary by county, and loans above the limit for a property’s county are generally priced and underwritten differently. Confirm the figure for your specific property before you compare, since it can move you between conventional conforming and jumbo options.
A comparison can cover several program families:
- Conventional: loans that follow conforming guidelines or fall outside them, with flexible down payment and term choices.
- FHA: government-insured loans with their own credit and down payment guidelines.
- VA: for eligible service members, veterans, and surviving spouses.
- USDA: for eligible properties in qualifying rural areas.
Eligibility for each depends on your situation and the property. A soft-pull comparison shows which programs appear to fit your profile as estimates, and nothing in it assumes you qualify for any particular one.
Soft Pull Pre-Approval FAQ
Does FreeMortgageSearch.com hurt my credit?
No. The comparison uses NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull with no hard inquiry, so it does not lower your score. A hard inquiry can occur later if you choose to submit a full application, which is a separate step you control.
What is NoTouch Credit Pull?
NoTouch Credit Pull is the soft pull mortgage process Duane Buziak uses for comparisons. You authorize a soft credit check, review estimated options from across wholesale lenders, and decide what to do next. It does not register as a loan application on your credit report.
Is a soft pull the same as a pre-approval letter?
No. A soft pull supports estimated comparisons. A pre-approval letter typically relies on verified income, assets, and a full credit review, which can include a hard inquiry. Treat the soft-pull results as a planning tool, not as a letter to submit with an offer.
When will a hard inquiry happen?
Usually when you move to a full application, such as for a formal pre-approval or a loan on a specific property. Timing varies by loan program and the broker’s process. You decide when to start that step, and your broker should tell you before it happens.
Am I obligated to proceed?
No. The comparison carries no obligation at any step. You can compare, walk away, return later, or request guidance on a formal application. Nothing about reviewing options commits you to a loan, a rate lock, or any fee.
How accurate are comparison results?
They are estimates based on the information you enter and a soft credit look. Final rates, fees, and terms depend on verified documents, underwriting, the property, and market pricing on the day you lock. Expect results to be a realistic range, not a commitment.
Does Duane Buziak work with hundreds of wholesale lenders or one bank?
Duane Buziak is a broker with access to hundreds of wholesale lenders, not a single bank’s product shelf. That lets a comparison draw on varied guidelines and pricing. The specific options you see depend on your profile, the loan program, and your property.
Which states can I use this in?
Duane Buziak is licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, and MD. FreeMortgageSearch.com is national in scope, but loans can only be offered for properties in licensed states. You can verify licensing through NMLS Consumer Access, linked below.
Run Your Own Soft-Pull Comparison and Dare to Compare
A soft-pull comparison with NoTouch Credit Pull lets you see realistic mortgage options without a hard inquiry, so you can narrow your choices before any formal credit pull. If you already have a Loan Estimate, bring it and Dare to Compare it line by line against what the tool surfaces. If you do not, start with the comparison and see where your numbers land.
Your dream home is within reach. Start comparing personalized mortgage rates from trusted lenders today and discover the loan solution that fits your budget and goals. Compare rates now and take the first step toward securing your home with expert guidance every step of the way.
