You may feel like you are drowning in paperwork when you head to your lender’s office to apply for your next home loan. This is thanks in part to tightening credit standards that are causing lenders to require more proof than ever of borrowers’ income and expenses. To make the process somewhat less daunting, I’ve put together a list of items you may be required to bring along when are ready begin the loan application process: (please note, all lenders are different and may require more or less paperwork!)
Employment/Income
- Addresses of employers for two full years
- Gross monthly income, proven by last two pay stubs
- W-2’s, if available
- Proof of pensions, retirement, disability, or Social Security
- Proof of income from rentals, investments, etc.
- Proof of child support or alimony paid/received
- Self-employed: two years 1040 tax returns and current year profit and loss statement
Creditors
- Each creditor’s name, type of account, and account numbers
- Monthly payments and approximate balances
- Amount of child care expenses and other fixed monthly expenses
Banking
- Names of checking & savings institutions, along with account numbers and current balances
- Last two months bank and savings statements
Miscellaneous
- List of assets in stocks, bonds, land
- Life insurance cash value
- Social Security numbers for all parties
- Veterans: Certificate of Eligibility & DD-214 or Statement of Service
- Divorce Decree and/or Separation Agreement if applicable
- Child support documentation if applicable
- Bankruptcy papers if applicable
This may seem like a lot of personal information to have to provide just to apply for a home loan. But imagine if you were about to lend hundreds of thousands of dollars to somebody – you’d probably want a pretty good idea of that person’s ability to pay you back!
Ralph Roberts of 
