 TITLE: How Many Hard Credit Inquiries Is Too Many? CONTENT: How Do Hard Credit Inquiries Affect Your Credit?\n------------------------------------------------\nLenders and credit scoring models consider how many hard inquiries you have on your credit reports because applications for new credit increase the risk a borrower poses. One or two hard inquiries accrued during the normal course of applying for loans or credit cards can have an almost negligible effect on your credit. Lots of recent hard inquiries on your credit report, however, could elevate the level of risk you pose as a borrower and have a more noticeable impact on credit scores.\nHard inquiries can stay on your credit report for two years, but the degree to which they affect your credit diminishes over time. While they could initially reduce your FICO credit score by several points, your scores will likely recover after a few months. The credit score sting caused by many hard inquiries in a short period of time will take longer to go away. At any rate, both types of inquiries are automatically removed from credit reports after two years.\nAgain, your overall credit health is what matters most. If you have a consistent track record of making on-time payments and keeping your revolving credit balances low, it isn't likely that a few hard inquiries will have enough of an impact on your credit scores that it affects your interest rates or credit approval. END