Conventional Loan Documents
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If you're employed and get regular paychecks, plus a W-2 every year, and you're not going through FHA, USDA, or an incentive-buying program, these are the documents you need to apply for mortgage pre-approval:
- Identification (one of these, which you will need to show in person)
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Other state- or federal-issued ID
- Income
- Pay stubs for the last 30 days
- Last two federal tax returns
- Last two W-2s
- Proof of any additional income (second jobs, social security, alimony, etc.)
- Accounts
- Last two statements on all bank accounts — be sure to include all pages, even blank ones
- Statements for all investment and/or retirement accounts
- Property
- Settlement statement from previous home sale, if applicable
- Additional documents
- Contact information for your landlord(s) for the last two years, if applicable
- Divorce decree, separation agreement, and/or property settlement agreement, if applicable
- Gift letter if a family member is helping with down payment (lender will have form)
- A letter of explanation (LOE) for late payments, collections, judgments, or other derogatory items in your credit history, if applicable
FHA Loan Documents
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If you're applying for mortgage pre-approval with the Federal Housing Administration, you'll need these documents:
- Identification (one of these, which you will need to show in person)
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Other state- or federal-issued ID
- Income
- Pay stubs for the last 30 days, if applicable
- Last two federal tax returns
- Last two W-2s or 1099s, if applicable
- Proof of any additional income (second jobs, social security, alimony, etc.)
- Accounts
- Statements for all investment and/or retirement accounts
- Last two statements on all bank accounts — be sure to include all pages, even blank ones
- Property
- Closing disclosure (or HUD-1 if the sale took place before Oct. 3, 2015) for previous purchase
- Additional documents
- Contact information for your landlord(s) for the last two years, if applicable
- Divorce decree, separation agreement, and/or property settlement agreement, if applicable
- Gift letter if a family member is helping with down payment (lender will have form)
- A letter of explanation (LOE) for late payments, collections, judgments, or other derogatory items in your credit history, if applicable
Documents For Buying an Investment Property
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If you're buying a property you plan to rent, these are the documents you should have in hand to apply for pre-approval:
- Identification (one of these, which you will need to show in person)
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Other state- or federal-issued ID
- Income
- Pay stubs for the last 30 days, if applicable
- Last two federal tax returns
- Last two W-2s or 1099s, if applicable
- Proof of any additional income (second jobs, social security, alimony, etc.)
- Accounts
- Last two statements on all bank accounts — be sure to include all pages, even blank ones
- Statements for all investment and/or retirement accounts
- Property
- Settlement statement on any recent home sales
- Recent mortgage statements on all properties you own
- Proof of insurance for all properties you own
- Current leases for all rental properties you own
- Additional documents
- Contact information for your landlord(s) for the last two years, if applicable
- Divorce decree, separation agreement, and/or property settlement agreement, if applicable
- Gift letter if a family member is helping with down payment (lender will have form)
- A letter of explanation (LOE) for late payments, collections, judgments, or other derogatory items in your credit history, if applicable
Self-Employed or Business-Owner Mortgage Documents
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If you're self-employed or own a business, these are the documents you need for the mortgage pre-approval process:
- Identification (one of these, which you will need to show in person)
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Other state- or federal-issued ID
- Income
- Pay stubs for the last 30 days, if applicable
- Last two federal tax returns
- Last two 1099s
- Proof of any additional income (second jobs, social security, alimony, etc.)
- Copies of commission checks to match deposits into your checking account, if applicable
- Accounts
- Last two statements on all bank accounts — be sure to include all pages, even blank ones
- Statements for all investment and/or retirement accounts
- Last two years' Corporate, S-Corp, LLC, or partnership tax returns
- Last two years' 1099s, if applicable
- Property
- Settlement statement from previous home sale, if applicable
- Additional documents
- Contact information for your landlord(s) for the last two years, if applicable
- Divorce decree, separation agreement, and/or property settlement agreement, if applicable
- Gift letter if a family member is helping with down payment (lender will have form)
- A letter of explanation (LOE) for late payments, collections, judgments, or other derogatory items in your credit history, if applicable
- Last two months' profit-and-loss statements
- Balance sheet, if applicable
- Current business license
VA Loan Documents
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If you're seeking pre-approval for a Veteran's Administration home loan, these are the documents you will need:
- Identification (one of these, which you will need to show in person)
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Other state- or federal-issued ID
- Income
- Pay stubs for the last 30 days, if applicable
- Last two federal tax returns
- Last two W-2s or 1099s, if applicable
- Proof of any additional income (second jobs, social security, alimony, etc.)
- Accounts
- Last two statements on all bank accounts — be sure to include all pages, even blank ones
- Statements for all investment and/or retirement accounts
- Property
- Settlement statement from previous home sale, if applicable
- Additional documents
- Form DD-214, certificate of release or discharge
- Statement of service from the adjutant, personnel office, commander, or higher headquarters if still on active duty
- Form 26-1817 or form 21-534 for surviving spouses, plus form 1300, report of casualty, or death certificate
- Contact information for your landlord(s) for the last two years, if applicable
- Divorce decree, separation agreement, and/or property settlement agreement, if applicable
- A letter of explanation (LOE) for late payments, collections, judgments, or other derogatory items in your credit history, if applicable
- Certificate of eligibility (COE) from the Veteran's Administration, which may require one or more of these documents, depending on your situation:
- Form DD-214, certificate of release or discharge
- Statement of service from the adjutant, personnel office, commander, or higher headquarters if still on active duty
- Form 26-1817 or form 21-534 for surviving spouses, plus form 1300, report of casualty, or death certificate
USDA (Rural Housing) Loan Documents
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If you're applying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Loan, you'll need these documents to seek pre-approval:
- Identification (one of these, which you will need to show in person)
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Other state- or federal-issued ID
- Income
- Pay stubs for the last 30 days, if applicable
- Last two federal tax returns
- Last two W-2s or 1099s, if applicable
- Proof of any additional income (second jobs, social security, alimony, etc.)
- Accounts
- Last two statements on all bank accounts — be sure to include all pages, even blank ones
- Statements for all investment and/or retirement accounts
- Property
- Settlement statement from previous home sale, if applicable
- Additional documents
- Contact information for your landlord(s) for the last two years, if applicable
- Divorce decree, separation agreement, and/or property settlement agreement, if applicable
- Gift letter if a family member is helping with down payment (lender will have form)
- A letter of explanation (LOE) for late payments, collections, judgments, or other derogatory items in your credit history, if applicable
- Form 410-4: Uniform Residential Loan Application, filled out by applicant(s)
- Form 3550-4: Employment & Asset Certification, a separate form filled out and signed by each applicant
- Form 3550-1: Authorization to Release Information, a separate form filled out and signed by each applicant and each adult household member
- Form 4506-T: Request for Transcript of Tax Return, a separate form filled out by each applicant
- Documentation of child care expenses for dependents 12 or younger, if applicable
- Life insurance policy
- For any household member who is a full-time student 18 years of age or older, a current school transcript
- Annual medical expenses for applicants 62 years of age or older, or with a disability (to be considered for a deduction in household income)
- A written explanation of two years of employment history, including an explanation of gaps