Your pre-approval checklist

The documents loan officers usually ask for, and how to gather them before you start.

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A pre-approval is a closer look at your income, assets and credit before you start house hunting. A pre-approval is not a commitment to lend, but it helps you shop with a clear budget.

Documents to gather

Most applications ask for recent pay stubs, the last two years of tax returns or W-2 forms, recent bank and savings statements, and a photo ID. Self-employed borrowers are usually asked for additional records, such as a profit and loss statement.

If part of your down payment is a gift, you will also need a short letter from the person giving it. Having these ready in one folder makes the process faster.

Your consent comes first

We ask for your written consent before we check your credit. Your loan officer will explain what the check involves and answer questions before you sign anything.

The online application never asks for a Social Security number, a date of birth or bank details. Your loan officer will tell you how to share those safely when they are needed.

Rates and figures are illustrative, not a rate quote, loan offer or commitment to lend. A pre-approval is not a commitment to lend.

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