By Ashlee Valentine, Bankrate.com

Part of the homebuying process involves shopping around with multiple lenders for the best mortgage rate. But without a plan, the very act of shopping around can negatively impact your credit: A higher credit score helps you secure a lower mortgage rate, but a hard credit inquiry like the one lenders perform can decrease your score. Here’s what to know about shopping for a mortgage with minimal harm to your credit.

When exploring mortgage options, your credit score typically takes a hit when you obtain a mortgage preapproval from a lender. That’s because part of getting preapproved includes the lender checking your credit through what’s called a “hard” inquiry. A hard credit inquiry involves a lender pulling your full credit report from a credit bureau, with your permission, which helps them decide whether to lend you money and at what interest rate.

A soft credit inquiry, on the other hand, does not impact your credit score or require your permission. It is typically done for informational purposes and not for lending decisions. A mortgage preapproval with only a soft credit check is hard to come by.

One step down from a preapproval is a mortgage prequalification. Although it does not replace a preapproval, prequalifications involve a only soft credit inquiry. In other words, you can see if you prequalify without hurting your credit score.

Can you get preapproved for a mortgage without a credit check?

No. Hard credit checks are a standard part of the mortgage preapproval process. While you can get a prequalification without a hard credit check, you cannot get preapproved without one.

Even so, you may hear the terms “prequalification” and “preapproval” used interchangeably, even by lenders. So it’s smart to check with lenders that their prequalification process doesn’t require a hard credit check before moving forward.

There are several ways to avoid a negative impact on your credit score when shopping for a mortgage:

Shop within a short timeframe

It’s wise to compare offers from multiple mortgage lenders, but be sure to do it within a 45-day time frame. During that period, all credit inquiries by various lenders only show up as one inquiry on your credit report. One inquiry has a lesser impact on your credit than several inquiries.

Get prequalified for a mortgage

Getting prequalified for a mortgage — some lenders call this a rate check — can be a smart strategy if you’re concerned about damaging your credit score as you comparison-shop. This gives you a soft credit check mortgage exploration option.

Keep in mind: While getting prequalified can help minimize damage to your credit score, it’s no substitute for getting preapproved when the time comes. In a competitive seller’s market, a preapproval is often necessary to prove to sellers you’ll be able to get financing if your offer is accepted.

Hold off on applying for new credit

If possible, wait until you officially close on your mortgage before applying for more credit types, such as a new credit card or a personal loan. Multiple inquiries for different types of credit can negatively impact your credit score, hindering your efforts to get a competitive mortgage rate. Even if applying for a credit card only drops your score by a few points, that could make a difference in your interest rate, especially if you’re on the cusp between “good” and “very good” or “fair” and “good” credit.

In addition, adding new debt can impact the loan amount you can qualify for. The more debt you have, the less mortgage you will qualify for.

Check your credit report

If you check your credit report before comparison shopping for a mortgage, you can take proactive steps to improve your credit score if needed. You’ll also be able to spot and fix any errors. Things to check for include:

The correct personal identity information (names or contact information you don’t recognize could indicate identity theft)
Correct information on all open and closed accounts, including loans you’ve fully paid off
Accurate recording of all payments you’ve made (pay special attention to any payments flagged as missed or late)
Account balances that match your actual balances
Credit score inquiries to confirm they’re ones you approved

If something doesn’t look right, take steps to dispute and correct it.

You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies each week at AnnualCreditReport.com. Don’t worry — checking your credit report won’t affect your score.

Keep in mind: The credit score you see on free credit reports might differ slightly from the score mortgage lenders see if they use different credit reporting models.

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Pay down debt

If your credit score could use improvement, one of the best ways to raise it is to pay down your debt, like credit card balances. If doable, pay off a credit card balance in full — with bonus points for keeping the balance as low as possible moving forward.

It might make more sense to pay down or pay off another loan instead of putting all of your excess funds toward eliminating credit card debt, even if the credit card debt has a higher interest rate. That’s because mortgage lenders review your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio through the lens of monthly payments.

For example, if your DTI ratio is a bit high and your student loan payment is higher than your minimum credit card payment, it is better to focus your debt payoff strategy on the loan, which would lower your DTI ratio. In cases like this, it’s helpful to consult an experienced loan officer who can advise you on the best ways to qualify for the lowest rates.

How to improve your credit score

The most attractive interest rates are reserved for borrowers with the best credit scores. With a score of 740 or higher, for example, most lenders will offer you a lower interest rate, reducing your monthly payment.

Once you’ve resolved any errors on your credit report, here are some additional ways of how to improve your credit score:

Make all payments on time each month: Payment history is a substantial factor in determining credit scores, and it makes sense that mortgage lenders care about being paid in a timely manner. If you have accounts that are past due, bring them current as soon as possible.
Pay down credit card balances: Paying down credit card balances decreases your credit utilization ratio, which accounts for 30% of your FICO credit score.
Avoid opening or closing accounts: Opening new accounts involves another hard credit check, which dings your credit score. And closing old accounts, even if you never use them, may negatively impact your credit utilization ratio.
Consider becoming an authorized user on a relative’s credit card: Only consider this option if they have an exceptional payment history and manage the card responsibly.

FAQs

How many mortgage lenders can I approach without impacting my credit score?

If you’re only asking questions or requesting prequalification, you can approach as many lenders as you want without hurting your credit. But even if you’re requesting preapproval, there’s no set amount for how many lenders you can approach — as long as you make all your requests within a single 45-day period, you can get preapproved by as many lenders as you want and have it count as only a single inquiry on your credit report.

Can I receive mortgage rate quotes without a credit check?

Yes. You can get a mortgage loan estimate through prequalification, which does not require a hard credit check and will not hurt your credit.

How long do mortgage inquiries stay on my credit report?

A hard inquiry may stay on your credit report for as long as two years. However, the inquiry itself typically only impacts your score for about one year.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

I’ve been in an egg rut lately. I’m eating a lot of them, as I usually do, but I’m finding the rotation of fried-scrambed-poached-boiled to be getting a bit dull.

Thankfully, these chile-oil eggs burn right through the monotony — a recipe that gives you fried eggs with runny yolks, bubbled whites and crisp edges, cooked in oil with garlic, paprika and red pepper. Use these eggs and that beautiful oil to top toast, rice or other grains, pasta, beans, green salad, kale, asparagus, yogurt or a combination of any of the above. (I’m partial to eggs topping a bowl of beans with a dab of yogurt and a handful of arugula or herbs.)

Keep reading for that recipe and four others for the nights ahead.

1. Olive Oil and Chile-Fried Eggs

Olive oil and chile-fried eggs. Put Andy Baraghani’s chile-oil eggs on anything – toast, pasta, beans, yogurt, grains, greens – for an instant hit of protein and flavor. Food Stylist: Susie Theodorou. (Christopher Simpson/The New York Times)

This is less of a recipe and more of a trick — one that ends with a deeply savory, spicy red oil you’ll want to pour over everything. The eggs are fried in olive oil until the whites puff and crisp around the edges, then you scoot them to the side and let sliced garlic, smoked paprika and chile sizzle in the oil. What you’re left with is a garlicky, brick-red oil that stains the eggs and perfumes your kitchen in the best way. Eat the eggs straight from the pan, spoon them over a bowl of yogurt with flatbread for a savory breakfast, or serve over a bowl of rice and top it with herbs and pickles — whatever you’ve got. That spicy oil makes the dish, and you’ll want to save every last drop.

By Andy Baraghani

Yield: 2 to 4 servings

Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 large eggs
Salt
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 small red chile, such as Fresno, thinly sliced, or 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Preparation:

1. Pour the oil into a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan and set over medium heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering (about 3 minutes), crack the eggs into the skillet one by one. The whites will make a big, splattery fuss, but don’t mind them, because you’re in control. Season each egg with salt and cook, spooning some of the hot oil over the whites until the edges begin to get crispy, browned and lacy, 3 to 5 minutes.

2. Remove the skillet from the heat and scoot the eggs a bit to the edge, so you can sprinkle the garlic, paprika and sliced red chile into the hot oil. Move the pan around and watch the flaming-red oil begin to stain the whites, then serve.

2. Parmesan-Crusted Chicken

Parmesan-crusted chicken. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. (Christopher Testani/The New York Times)

These crunchy, cheesy breaded chicken breasts are baked, not fried, making for hands-off cooking and easy cleanup. Instead of relying on a typical three-part dredge — with flour, eggs and breadcrumbs — this recipe uses mayonnaise to help the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken. The mayonnaise does the job beautifully, adding flavor and moisture in the process. Tossing the panko-Parmesan mixture in olive oil helps the breadcrumbs brown in the oven, mimicking the crisp texture of a fried cutlet but with way less oil. Serve with a simple green salad or your favorite sauce for dipping, as these breaded chicken cutlets are essentially large-format, dinner-friendly chicken tenders.

By Lidey Heuck

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8 ounces each)
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 1/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnishing
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Lemon wedges (optional), for serving

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

2. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel, then carefully slice each breast in half horizontally, forming 2 thin cutlets. (You’ll have 4 total pieces.)

3. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound the cutlets until 1/4-inch thick. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

4. In a large, shallow bowl or rimmed plate, combine the panko, Parmesan and parsley with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add oil and toss until the breadcrumbs are evenly coated.

5. Working one at a time, brush each chicken cutlet all over with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, then dip into the panko mixture, turning and pressing gently until fully coated. Place the breaded chicken on the prepared pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until browned and cooked through.

6. Sprinkle lightly with salt and serve hot or warm.

3. Tofu and Broccoli

Tofu and broccoli. Food Stylist: Sue Li. (Linda Xiao/The New York Times)

Salty with soy sauce and spiced with fresh ginger, this tofu and broccoli dish captures the comforting flavors of your favorite takeout, but can be made fresh, with minimal effort, at home. It comes together in no time and is incredibly satisfying. Tofu lightly tossed in cornstarch and then crisped up absorbs the simple soy-and-sugar glaze to create the most satisfying texture. And the lightly charred broccoli only deepens the flavor. Serve it over a bed of steamed rice for an inexpensive dinner that is as quick as it is delicious.

By Sue Li

Yield: 2 to 4 servings

Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup light soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup cornstarch, divided
1 (14-ounce) block firm tofu, drained
4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
Kosher salt
2 medium broccoli crowns, cut into florets
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 (1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, finely chopped (about 2 teaspoons)
3 scallions, finely chopped
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Rice, for serving

Preparation:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1/2 cup water. Set aside.

2. Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes, spread the cubes onto a few layers of paper towels and pat them dry. In a medium bowl, toss the cubes with the remaining 1/4 cup of cornstarch and fully coat the tofu.

3. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add the tofu and cook until all sides are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the tofu onto a plate and season with salt.

4. In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium heat, add the broccoli and cook, undisturbed, until broccoli is lightly charred on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. (Do not be tempted to move them!) Toss and cook until the other sides of the broccoli are darkened in spots, another 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, the garlic, ginger and scallions to the same skillet and stir until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust the heat to low, add the tofu back to the skillet, and stir in the reserved soy sauce mixture. Bring to a simmer, tossing frequently, until the broccoli and tofu are evenly glazed, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

6. Serve the tofu and broccoli topped with toasted sesame seeds, with rice alongside.

4. Spiced Ginger Shrimp With Burst Tomatoes

Spiced ginger shrimp with burst tomatoes. Put Andy Baraghani’s chile-oil eggs on anything – toast, pasta, beans, yogurt, grains, greens – for an instant hit of protein and flavor. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. (David Malosh/The New York Times)

This speedy, buttery, one-pan meal stars plump, spiced shrimp zipped up with grated fresh ginger, and sweetened with ripe Sungold tomatoes that burst in the skillet. You can use any aromatic spice mix you have on hand here, which makes it a highly convenient meal as well. Serve this over rice or with crusty bread for mopping up all those rich, jammy tomatoes.

By Melissa Clark

Yield: 2 to 3 servings

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

About 1 1/2 teaspoons aromatic spice blend, such as garam masala, Baharat, five-spice, curry powder, or a mild chili powder blend (see note), plus more to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced or finely grated
3 scallions, thinly sliced, greens and whites separated
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound extra-large shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup small (or halved large) cherry tomatoes, preferably yellow Sungold tomatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Fresh lime juice
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, torn or roughly chopped

Preparation:

1. In a medium bowl, combine spice blend, ginger, garlic, scallion whites, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add shrimp and toss well. Heat a large skillet over high heat, then add the oil. Add the tomatoes and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook until the whole tomatoes burst and the halved ones start to wrinkle, about 2 minutes.

2. Add shrimp mixture and sauté for another 2 to 4 minutes, turning the shrimp, until they are pink all over.

3. Gently stir in butter and cook for another minute, until the shrimp are cooked through. Remove from heat and add a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Taste and add more salt and spices, if needed. Garnish with mint and scallion greens and serve immediately.

TIP: If your spice blend is heavy on the chiles, you might want to cut back by 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon; you can always add more to taste just before serving.

5. Sizzled Scallion Rice With Sardines

Sizzled scallion rice with sardines. Put Andy Baraghani’s chile-oil eggs on anything – toast, pasta, beans, yogurt, grains, greens – for an instant hit of protein and flavor. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

TikTok and brands like Fishwife have made sardines cool in the U.S. in recent years. Not that longtime sardine lovers needed that validation — we’ve always known that they are an intense little treat, meaty and rich, best matched with ingredients with sharp, bright flavors. This five-star scallion-and-chile-flecked dish from Ashley Lonsdale is a perfect example.

By Ashley Lonsdale

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 bunch scallions
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bird’s-eye chiles or other small hot chiles, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 (4-ounce) tins sardines packed in olive oil
4 cups cooked rice, such as long-grain white rice, short-grain brown rice or black rice
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons white vinegar, plus more to taste

Preparation:

1. Trim and discard the scallion roots. Thinly slice the scallions, separating the studier white and light green parts from the dark green tops.

2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the white and light green sliced scallions, onion, garlic and chiles, then season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy in parts. If things get a little too toasty before the 5-minute mark, lower the heat to medium.

3. Add the sardines to the skillet, plus 2 teaspoons of oil from the sardine tins. Mash the sardines with a wooden spoon into small pieces.

4. Add the rice and thyme and fry for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the rice is coated with the sardine mixture and slightly plumped from the oil, adding more sardine oil as needed to prevent any sticking. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

5. Stir in the vinegar, then garnish with the dark green scallion tops and more black pepper.

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Today is Tuesday, Oct. 14, the 287th day of 2025. There are 78 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 14, 1947, U.S. Air Force Capt. Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier as he flew a Bell X-1 rocket plane over Muroc Dry Lake in California. In 2012, Yeager, at the age of 89, marked the 65th anniversary of that flight by smashing through the sound barrier again, this time in the backseat of an F-15.

Also on this date:

In 1066, Normans under William the Conqueror defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings.

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In 1586, Mary, Queen of Scots, went on trial in England, accused of committing treason against Queen Elizabeth I. (Mary was beheaded in February 1587.)

In 1910, aviator Claude Grahame-White flew his biplane over Washington, D.C., and landed it on West Executive Avenue, next to the White House.

In 1944, German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel took his own life rather than face trial and certain execution for allegedly conspiring against Adolf Hitler.

In 1964, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1964, in one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, American Billy Mills, an Oglala Lakota, won the 10,000-meter race at the Tokyo Summer Games, setting a new Olympic record.

In 1981, the new president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak (HOHS’-nee moo-BAH’-rahk), was sworn in to succeed the assassinated Anwar Sadat.

In 1986, Holocaust survivor and human rights advocate Elie Wiesel (EL’-ee vee-ZEHL’) was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2008, a grand jury in Orlando, Florida, returned charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter against Casey Anthony in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. (She was acquitted in July 2011.)

In 2024, a Space X rocket launched the NASA spacecraft Europa Clipper on a mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to determine whether conditions there could support life; the spacecraft will arrive in 2030.

Today’s Birthdays:

Former White House counsel John W. Dean III is 87.
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is 86.
Football Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner is 78.
Golf Hall of Famer Beth Daniel is 69.
Musician Thomas Dolby is 67.
Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi is 64.
Actor Steve Coogan is 60.
TV host Stephen A. Smith is 58.
Country singer Natalie Maines (The Chicks) is 51.
Actor Chang Chen is 49.
Singer Usher is 47.
Actor-comedian Jay Pharoah is 38.

Cruising with a 3-0 lead late in the first period, the Wild appeared to put the Los Angeles Kings away early when Ryan Hartman swept in a rebound with 3 minutes, 7 seconds left for a 4-0 lead.

The horn sounded, and Hartman raised his arms. But before the Wild center could get to bench for his high-fives, on-ice officials waved off the goal on goaltender interference. Hartman was engaged with Quinton Byfield and fell into Darcy Kuemper, impeding the goaltender’s ability to chase the puck.

The contact was incidental, but that disallowed goal loomed large as the Kings rallied to tie the game with three third-period goals to send the game to overtime.

But Jesper Wallstedt, making his first NHL start since Dec. 21, 2024, stopped all four of the Kings’ shootout shots, and the Wild survived long enough to win it, 4-3, on Marco Rossi’s shootout goal. Wallstedt stopped Andrei Kuzmenko to seal the victory.

It looked like the Wild’s game early. In the space of 2 minutes 29 seconds, Jared Spurgeon, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy scored power-play goals as Minnesota raced to a 3-0 lead.

Kaprizov and Boldy each scored their third goal in three games, and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 31 saves in his first NHL game since Dec. 21, 2024. But the Wild haven’t scored an even-strength goal since their 5-0, season-opening win at St. Louis on Oct. 10 and appeared to run out of gas as the Kings pinned them in their own end for most of the third period.

Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield each scored early in the third period, the latter on a power-play goal, as the Kings made it a one-goal game late. With Kuemper pulled for an extra attacker, Adrian Kempe scored on a long rebound with 45 seconds left in regulation to tie it 3-3.

The Wild put a franchise-best 52 shots on goal against the Blue Jackets on Saturday but had only two shots on goal until they set up camp in the Kings’ zone late in the first period, helped immensely by three minor penalties on Los Angeles in less than three minutes.

Spurgeon and Kaprizov scored on wrist shots through traffic, Kaprizov’s on a 5-on-3 advantage after Adrian Kempe hooked him near the beginning of another man advantage that made it 2-0 at 16:13.

Twenty seconds later, Boldy threw a puck at Kings goaltender Kuemper from behind the net. It caromed off Keumper’s left leg and over the goal line for a 3-0 lead.

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