I read this article published by Experian, one of the three national credit rating agencies, and thought it was interesting to share:
IN THE KNOW: The Top Three Credit Myths: Revealed
Myth #1: Checking my own credit report will lower my score
Personal inquiries, also known as "soft inquiries" or "below the line inquiries," are not visible to lenders and therefore are not part of your credit score calculation. So you can rest easy-checking your own credit report or score does NOT negatively impact your score.
Myth #2: Applying for new credit will actually lower my score
This depends on the type of credit you're applying for. If you apply for several credit cards within a short period of time, the number of inquiries will go up, which could drop your score. But if you're applying for a mortgage or auto loan, multiple inquiries from these lenders are generally treated as a "single inquiry" and will have little impact on your credit score.
Myth #3: My score is the only thing that matters to a lender
In addition to your credit score, credit grantors may consider a number of other factors such as your income, assets, length at current residence and employment history when determining whether to extend credit. The criteria used may differ from one creditor to another.
Source: Experian