Get ready
Exactly what you'll need, in one checklist.
Getting a mortgage or refinancing is far less stressful when you know what to gather first. Here's the straight list — for buying and for refinancing — so you can walk in ready.
Documents to apply for a purchase loan.
When you apply to buy a home, a lender is confirming three things: how much you earn, what you have saved, and who you are. Have these ready and your approval moves fast:
- Income — your two most recent pay stubs, W-2s from the last two years, and (for most programs) one to two years of federal tax returns.
- Self-employed income — one to two years of personal and business tax returns, plus a year-to-date profit-and-loss statement if you have one.
- Assets — your most recent statements for checking, savings, and any retirement or investment accounts (for the down payment and reserves).
- Identity — a government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number for the credit check.
- Gift funds (if any) — a signed gift letter and proof of the transfer, if part of your down payment is a gift from family.
Not sure which apply to you? FHA, VA, conventional, and jumbo loans each have slightly different requirements — we send you a personalized checklist for your exact program.
Documents to refinance your mortgage.
A refinance verifies your income and assets just like a purchase — plus a few documents about the home you already own:
- Income & assets — the same pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, and bank statements as a purchase.
- Your current mortgage statement — showing your loan balance and servicer.
- Homeowners insurance — your current policy (the declarations page).
- Property tax bill — your most recent statement.
- Photo ID — government-issued, for each person on the loan.
- HOA information — if your home is in an HOA, recent dues and contact details.
Wondering whether refinancing is even worth it first? Run the numbers on our refinance calculator, then bring us your real situation and we’ll give you the honest break-even.
Mortgage document questions, answered.
What documents do I need to apply for a mortgage?
To apply for a home loan, lenders generally ask for proof of income (recent pay stubs, W-2s, and often 1-2 years of tax returns), proof of assets (recent bank and retirement-account statements), a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security number for a credit check. Self-employed buyers also provide business tax returns and sometimes profit-and-loss statements. We send you a clear, personalized checklist so you're never guessing.
What documents do I need to refinance my mortgage?
Refinancing uses much of the same paperwork as a purchase: recent pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, and bank statements to verify income and assets, plus a photo ID. You'll also provide details on your current loan and the property — your most recent mortgage statement, your homeowners insurance policy, and often a recent property tax bill. We'll tell you exactly what your refinance needs based on your loan type.
What income documents do mortgage lenders require?
For most salaried borrowers: your two most recent pay stubs, W-2s from the last two years, and frequently your last one to two years of federal tax returns. If you're self-employed, a contractor, or paid on commission, lenders typically want two years of personal (and sometimes business) tax returns and may ask for a year-to-date profit-and-loss statement. We match you to lenders whose guidelines fit how you actually earn.
Do I need tax returns to get a mortgage?
Often, yes — many loan programs ask for one to two years of tax returns, especially for self-employed income. But not always: some W-2 borrowers qualify with pay stubs and W-2s alone, and there are specialized programs (like bank-statement loans) for self-employed buyers who don't show all their income on tax returns. Because we're a broker, we can match your situation to the right program.
How long does it take to gather mortgage documents?
Most buyers can pull together the core documents in a day or two — pay stubs and IDs are usually on hand, and bank and tax documents can be downloaded from your online accounts. Getting organized early is the single best way to speed up your approval. We give you the full checklist up front so nothing slows your closing.
Got your documents? Let's get started.
Send us what you have and we'll tell you exactly what's missing — then shop hundreds of lenders for your best fit. One call with the owner, no pressure.