You can get prequalified for a mortgage for free from online brokers, national online lenders, banks, credit unions, and local loan officers. The difference between them is the credit check behind the “free” label. Many run a hard inquiry that can lower your score before you have even chosen a home. Duane Buziak’s NoTouch Credit Pull works differently: it is a soft pull mortgage pre-qualification, so you see your estimated buying range with no mark on your credit. This article explains where free prequalification is available, what each pull type does to your score, and how to compare providers before you share any information.
By Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647
Four Places to Get Prequalified for Free (and What “Free” Covers)
Four channels will issue a prequalification at no charge:
- Online mortgage brokers. One application is matched against many wholesale lenders.
- National online lenders. Rocket, Movement, Veterans United, NFM Lending, and Alcova are examples of national providers that offer online prequalification. Each sets its own process, so read its credit-pull disclosure before you start.
- Retail banks and credit unions. These often prequalify existing customers first, using the institution’s own products.
- Local loan officers. They work by phone or in person and typically represent one company’s programs.
“Free” has a narrow meaning here. Prequalification carries no application fee and no credit-report fee. Costs such as the appraisal, origination, title, and insurance arrive later, and only if you go forward with a loan. Even then, many buyers can structure their purchase with no-out-of-pocket closing options, where costs are covered through seller credits or lender credits rather than paid at the table. Free prequalification does not mean the whole loan process is free, and it is not a commitment to lend.
The structural difference that matters most is broker versus single lender. A single lender can only offer its own products and rates. Duane Buziak is a broker who shops hundreds of wholesale lenders, which means one application can surface programs and pricing that a single company would never show you. A retail bank or one national lender gives you one answer. A broker gives you a field to compare.
Free Prequals by Duane Buziak serves homebuyers nationally online, but mortgage licensing is state by state. Duane’s licenses currently cover Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and Washington, DC. You can confirm any broker’s licensed states on NMLS Consumer Access, linked at the end of this article. Whichever channel you choose, ask one question first: will this prequalification pull my credit, and how?
Hard Pull vs. Soft Pull: The Cost Hidden Inside a “Free” Prequal
A hard inquiry happens when you apply for credit and a lender pulls your full report to make a decision. It is recorded on your credit report and can lower your score. A soft inquiry is a credit check that does not affect your score. You see soft inquiries when you check your own credit, and they are the basis of no credit impact mortgage pre-qual.
Hard inquiries stay on your report for about two years, though their effect on a score typically fades well before that. FICO’s published consumer guidance says a single inquiry usually costs fewer than five points for most people. Some industry sources cite five to ten points, and results vary with your credit history. Someone with a thin file or a score near a pricing tier feels it more than someone with a long, clean history.
Scoring models also recognize that people shop for mortgages. As of 2026, newer versions of FICO and VantageScore generally treat multiple mortgage inquiries within a short window as one, but the window length varies by model, ranging from about 14 days to 45 days. Older models used by some mortgage underwriters may use the shorter window. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s mortgage shopping guidance explains why comparing offers within a short period is usually treated more gently than spreading applications over months. You cannot assume every provider’s check is covered by that window, so ask first.
The common misconception is that prequalification never touches your credit. Many do. “Prequalification” is a name, not a standard. One provider’s version is a self-reported estimate with a soft pull, and another’s is a full hard inquiry that happens to be labeled prequal. They are different products sharing the same name, and the disclosure fine print is where you find out which one you are getting.
Worked Example: What a Few Credit Points Can Cost on a $300,000 Loan
Consider an illustration, not a quote. Suppose you are buying with a $300,000, 30-year FHA loan. These rates are assumptions chosen to show the math, and real rates change daily and depend on the full file.
- 590 FICO at 6.50%: principal and interest of about $1,896.20 a month.
- 580 FICO at 6.75%: principal and interest of about $1,945.79 a month.
The gap is $49.59 a month. Across 360 payments, that is $17,852 more in interest paid to the lender. These figures exclude FHA mortgage insurance, property taxes, and homeowners insurance, which are the same in both cases here and would add to each payment.
Ten points of score did not cost $17,852 by themselves. In real pricing, rates move in tiers, and a hard pull costs you nothing if your score stays in the same tier. The risk is sitting near a threshold. A borrower at 582 who takes a hard inquiry and slips to 578 can land on the wrong side of an FHA benchmark, since HUD’s FHA guidance ties the minimum down payment to a 580 score. Pricing tiers on conventional loans work the same way, with their own cutoffs.
That is why the pull type matters during the shopping phase. A soft pull mortgage pre-qualification lets you learn where you stand without risking the points. You can then improve the file, pay down a card, or fix an error before anything is recorded against you. Credit scores also affect the terms offered to you more broadly, a relationship the CFPB’s home-buying preparation steps cover in more detail.
How to Get Prequalified for a Mortgage for Free With a NoTouch Credit Pull
Duane Buziak’s process takes four steps:
- Share your basics. Income, assets, monthly debts, and your target price range.
- Authorize a NoTouch Credit Pull. This is a soft inquiry, so it does not lower your score.
- Review your estimate. You see your likely buying range and the loan types that fit.
- Receive your prequalification letter. You can use it to talk with agents and plan your search.
The letter shows an estimated buying range and the loan type you appear to fit. It does not show a rate lock, a final approval, or a promise to lend. Prequalification is an estimate based on information you provide. A full pre-approval goes further: you submit documents such as pay stubs, bank statements, and tax returns, and an underwriter reviews them. Duane’s process delivers a mortgage pre-approval without hard pull at the front end, so you can start with the estimate and move to document review when you are ready, not because a pull forced the timing.
The process covers FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, and jumbo programs. For 2026, the conforming loan limit is $806,500 in most counties and $1,249,125 in designated high-cost areas, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Loans above your county’s limit are jumbo loans and follow different guidelines. VA loans are explained on VA.gov, and USDA guaranteed loans on the USDA Rural Development site.
The limits are worth stating plainly. A final loan approval will eventually require a full credit review, and a hard pull may be needed at that stage. The NoTouch Credit Pull protects you during the shopping phase, when you are comparing options and could otherwise collect inquiries. Duane Buziak, recognized as a Scotsman Guide Top Originator and backed by more than 1,400 five-star reviews, built the process so that the free step stays free of credit consequences.
Dare to Compare: NoTouch Credit Pull vs. Typical Lenders and Banks
The table below describes typical patterns, not any one company. Policies vary by provider and change, so confirm each provider’s own disclosure.
| Feature | Duane Buziak / NoTouch Credit Pull | Typical National Lender | Typical Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit pull type for prequalification | Soft pull through the NoTouch Credit Pull | Varies by provider; often a hard pull, so check the disclosure | Varies; frequently a hard pull, sometimes soft for existing customers |
| Score impact | None from the prequalification step | Possible small drop if a hard inquiry is recorded | Possible small drop if a hard inquiry is recorded |
| Time to prequalification letter | Typically quick once your information is submitted | Varies by provider | Varies by institution |
| Access to loan options | Broker shopping hundreds of wholesale lenders | One company’s products and pricing | One institution’s products and pricing |
| FICO floor by program | Depends on the program and wholesale lender, with FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, and jumbo options | Set by that company’s own guidelines and overlays | Often set by the bank’s own overlays; varies |
Broker independence is the structural point. One application reaches many wholesale lenders, and you have no obligation to continue with any of them. If a different program fits your file, a broker can move you there. A single-company provider can only work within its own menu, which is a legitimate model but a narrower one.
Before you apply anywhere, ask three questions:
- Is the prequalification a hard pull or a soft pull?
- Will I receive a prequalification letter I can use?
- Can I compare more than one lender’s pricing?
Free Prequalification FAQ
Where can I get prequalified for a mortgage for free?
Online brokers, national online lenders, retail banks, credit unions, and local loan officers all offer free prequalification. The difference is the credit check. Duane Buziak’s Free Prequals service uses a NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft inquiry, so your score is not affected while you shop.
Does prequalification hurt my credit?
It depends on the provider. A soft-pull prequalification does not affect your score. A hard-pull version can lower it by a few points, and the inquiry stays on your report for about two years. Check each provider’s disclosure before you authorize anything.
Is a soft pull prequal accepted by sellers?
Generally yes. Agents and sellers mainly want a prequalification letter that shows a credible buying range. Some sellers in competitive markets prefer a full pre-approval backed by documents, so ask your agent what your market expects before you make an offer.
What is the difference between prequalification and pre-approval?
Prequalification is an estimate of what you can borrow based on information you share. Pre-approval adds document verification and underwriting review, so it carries more weight with sellers. Neither is a final loan commitment. Duane’s process starts with a soft pull and moves to documents when you are ready.
What credit score do I need?
It varies by program. As of 2026, FHA guidelines tie the lowest down payment to a 580 score, conventional loans commonly look for around 620, and VA and USDA minimums depend on the wholesale lender. A broker can match your score to the program that fits.
Which documents will I need?
Prequalification usually needs only information you state, such as income, debts, assets, and target price. Pre-approval requires documents, typically recent pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, bank statements, and identification. Self-employed buyers should expect to provide additional income documentation.
How long is a prequalification letter good for?
Validity varies by provider, but letters are commonly treated as current for about 60 to 90 days. Because your income, debts, and credit can change, update your prequalification if you are still searching after that period or if your finances shift.
Can I get prequalified for FHA, VA, or USDA loans without a hard pull?
Yes. Duane Buziak’s NoTouch Credit Pull covers FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, and jumbo programs at the prequalification stage. As of 2026, a full credit review, which may include a hard pull, is typically required only when you move toward final loan approval.
Start Your Free NoTouch Credit Pull Prequalification
Free prequalification is easy to find. What separates one option from another is whether the credit check behind it costs you points. A good rule: if a provider will not tell you in plain terms whether the pull is soft or hard, assume it is hard and keep looking.
Take the first step toward homeownership with confidence: get your free mortgage prequalification today and discover exactly what you can afford, with no obligation and no cost. Work with award-winning Mortgage Maestro Duane Buziak and benefit from expert guidance, industry connections, and potential savings on your home loan.