Shopping around for a mortgage typically causes a minor ding on your credit. When you apply for a mortgage with several lenders, each lender performs a hard pull on your credit, which can lower your credit score by several points. However, it's crucial to submit your applications within a few days, so they all count as one pull. Otherwise, each pull will count separately and harm your credit even more. It’s also key to remember that asking lenders for basic information on mortgages doesn’t impact your credit. It’s just when they pull your credit for preapproval.