If you want or need a loan to purchase your next home you are going to have to supply the lender with a lot of information. Here is a list of documents that you should have ready to give to your lender. You won’t need everything on this list to get a preapproval letter, but you will need it once you have a home under contract in order to get final loan approval.

Most lenders will have you go online to apply in order to gain pre-approval. Following is the information you need to provide during the loan application process (these documents are usually uploaded to the lending specialist through a secured link):

General 

• Non-expired Government ID and Social Security Number
• Name and complete address for past 2 years of residence

Income

• Employment history, including names, addresses, phone numbers for the past 2 years.
• Copies of your most recent pay stubs and W-2 forms (past 2 years).
• Verification of other income (social security, child support, retirement).
• Copies of signed tax returns including all schedules (past 2 years).
• Social Security & Pension Award letters.
• If you have rental property income: Copies of all signed lease agreements.

Assets 

• Copies of all bank statements from checking/savings accounts (past 2 months).
• CD certificates and statements for retirement accounts (most recent 2 months or quarterly statement).
• Gift funds will need gift letter of proof of gift.

Creditors 

• Credit cards (current balances and monthly payments).
• Installment loans (car, student, etc.).
• Mortgage loans (property address, lender with address, account numbers, monthly payment and balance owed on all properties presently owned or sold within the last 2 years). Bring proof of sale for properties sold.
• Childcare expense/support (name, address, phone number). [VA loans only]

Other 

• Bankruptcy – bring discharge and schedule of creditors.
• Adverse credit – bring letters of explanation.
• Divorce – bring your Divorce Decrees, property settlements, quitclaim deeds, modifications, etc.
• VA only – bring Form DD214 and Certificate of Eligibility.
• Retires – bring retirement and/or Social Security Award Letter.