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Pre‑Approval & Required Documents

Learn how to get pre‑approved and gather the paperwork you’ll need for a smooth mortgage experience.

Why Pre‑Approval Matters

Getting pre‑approved is an important first step in your home buying journey. It tells sellers you’re a serious buyer and helps you understand how much home you can afford. Pre‑approval also speeds up the loan process once you’ve found a property.

During pre‑approval, your lender reviews your credit, income, assets and debts. Based on this information, they issue a pre‑approval letter detailing the loan amount you qualify for.

At a Glance

Documents You’ll Need

  • Recent pay stubs or proof of income (two most recent pay periods)
  • W‑2s or 1099s from the past two years
  • Federal tax returns (personal and business, if self‑employed) for the last two years
  • Bank statements and asset statements (retirement, investment accounts) for the past two months
  • Photo ID and Social Security number
  • Credit explanation letters for any derogatory items, if needed
  • Proof of additional income (alimony, child support, rental income, etc.)

Tools & Next Steps

Use the checklist on this page and reach out when you’re ready—we’ll map a clean path to “clear to close.”