Yes, applying requires a hard credit pull, because the program requires a real pre-approval letter and no lender can issue one without verifying your credit. And yes, applying is worth it if you qualify. On the hard pull, some perspective. We are flexible about credit pulls, and a soft pull has its time and place, but hard inquiries are overrated as score-killers, especially when your credit is already good; the effect is usually small and short-lived. Per the CFPB, multiple mortgage credit pulls inside roughly a 45-day window count as a single inquiry for scoring purposes. The real risk is spreading pulls out over months, and someone planning to buy within about 90 days should simply start with the hard pull. On the odds: this kind of down-payment assistance is genuine help toward getting into a home, and the main cost of applying is patience. You may wait a couple of months to learn whether you were selected, which can be frustrating when you are ready to buy now. Weigh that waiting period against your timeline. Since funding is limited and selection odds vary by cycle, treat it as a strong shot worth taking rather than a sure thing, keep a backup financing plan in your pocket, and confirm the current application steps before you start.