Buyer education - keep this one
The Document Checklist
Gathering documents before you apply - not after - is the single biggest speed-up in the mortgage process. Here is what virtually every lender needs, organized by category. "If Applicable" items are only required for borrowers who match that situation.
👤 Identity
Why: confirms who is on the loan before anything else is reviewed.
- Government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
- Social Security number (for credit pull authorization)
- Secondary ID if requested (utility bill, bank statement)
- Green card or visa documentation if not a U.S. citizen
🏭 Assets
Why: proves you can cover the down payment, closing costs, and reserves.
- 2 months of bank statements - ALL pages, ALL accounts
- Retirement and investment account statements (most recent)
- Documentation of any large deposits (see pro tip below)
- Gift letter if any portion of funds is a gift from family
- Proceeds statement if selling a current home to fund the purchase
📈 Income - W-2 employees and self-employed
Why: establishes the income the loan is qualified against - the biggest piece of your file.
W-2 / Salaried employees
- 2 years of W-2 forms from all employers
- 30 days of most recent pay stubs (all income sources)
- 2 years of federal tax returns - all schedules
- Social Security / pension award letters (if applicable)
- Rental income: leases + 2 years Schedule E
Self-employed / 1099 / business owners
- 2 years of personal federal tax returns - all pages
- 2 years of business tax returns (partnerships, S-corps)
- Year-to-date profit and loss statement
- 12-24 months of business bank statements
- CPA letter confirming self-employment (if requested)
📄 If Applicable - only for borrowers who match
Why: these only apply when your situation triggers them - ask us if you are unsure which do.
- VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) - for VA loan applicants; we can often obtain this for you
- Divorce decree / separation agreement - if paying or receiving alimony or child support, or if prior-marriage property is involved
- Gift letter from donor - if any closing funds are a gift; must include donor name, relationship, amount, and a statement that no repayment is required
- Bankruptcy discharge papers - if you had a bankruptcy within the past 7 years
- Foreclosure or short sale documentation - if within the past 7 years
- Landlord contact - if renting and lender wants to verify rent payment history
Pro tip
- Send PDFs - not photos. Phone snapshots are often blurry, cropped, or unreadable by underwriting software.
- Send all pages, even blank ones. A 12-page bank statement with page 8 missing will be kicked back.
- Names must match exactly. The name on your ID, pay stubs, bank statements, and tax returns should all be consistent. Discrepancies cause delays.
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Equal Housing Opportunity. {{lo.company}}, NMLS #{{lo.nmls}} (Company NMLS #{{compliance.companyNmls}}).
This material is educational only and is not a commitment to lend, an offer of credit, or a fee quote; all
loans are subject to underwriting approval. Document requirements vary by loan program, lender, and individual
borrower circumstances; your loan officer will provide a complete, personalized list at application.
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