To determine loan eligibility, lenders typically require the following types of documents from each applicant:
Income Documents
Federal tax returns: last 2 years
W-2s: last 2 years
Pay stubs: last 2 months
Any additional income documentation: pension, retirement, child support, Social Security/disability income award letters, etc.
Asset Documents
Bank statements: 2 most recent checking and savings account statements
401(k) or retirement account statement and summary
Other assets: statements and summaries of IRAs, stocks, bonds, etc.
Other Documents
Copy of driver's license or ID and Social Security cardNayantara Kani
Addresses for the past 2-5 years and landlord's contact info if applicable
Student loan statements: showing current and future payment amounts
Documents relating to any of the following if applicable: divorce, bankruptcy, collections, judgments or pending lawsuits
House wants and needs list
Important Features You're Looking for in a Home
Determine the features you are looking for in your ideal home and prioritize which items are most important to you. No house is perfect, but this will help us find the best match for you.
Type of Home
Single
Townhouse
Condo
Other
Desired Features
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Car Garage
Small or large yard
Ideal Square footage
Desired Location/Neighborhood/School District:
Condition of Home
Move-in ready
Some work needed is OK
Fixer upper
House Hunting Tips
Tips for Finding Your Ideal Home
Investigate the Area
Drive around neighborhoods that interest you to get a feel of the area, how the homes are cared for, what traffic is like, etc…
Take Picture and Notes
When you visit multiple houses it gets difficult to remember specific details about each one. Take photos and notes while touring houses so that you can reference them later when comparing the properties that you've seen.
Keep an Open Mind
Finding your dream home isn't always an easy task! Have a priorities list but keep an open mind when viewing houses.
Be Ready to Make an Offer
When you find a home you want to buy, keep in mind there may be others interested in it as well. Be ready to make a solid offer quickly in order to have the best chance at getting that home.
Ask Around
to family, friends and co-workers to see if anyone might know of a house for sale in an area you're interested in. One of them may even know of someone that's thinking about selling but hasn't put the house on the market yet.
What not to do
During the Home Buying Process
It's extremely important not do any of the following until after the home buying process is complete:
Open a line of credit
Move money around
Make a major purchase
Buy or lease a car
Change jobs
Miss a bill payment