Document Checklist

What You'll Need
to Get Started

Lenders require a paper trail to verify income, assets, employment, and identity. Having these documents ready before you apply speeds up the process and reduces back-and-forth delays.

Required Documents

Identity
  • 2 Forms of Government-Issued IDPatriot Act requirement — driver's license, passport, etc.
Income
  • 2 Most Recent Pay Stubs
  • 2 Years Personal Tax ReturnsW-2s included
  • HR Contact NumberFor employment verification
Assets
  • 2 Months Bank StatementsAll checking and savings accounts
  • 2 Months Asset StatementsStocks, 401(k), IRA, etc.
Self-Employed
  • 2 Years Business Tax Returns
  • Current P&L StatementYear-to-date profit & loss
  • 1099 Forms
  • Occupational / Business License
Life Events (if applicable)
  • Divorce Decree
  • Child Support or Alimony Documentation
Transaction Documents
  • Purchase ContractPurchase transactions
  • Escrow Deposit VerificationFrom realtor or title / attorney
  • Prior Title PolicyRefinance only — may save on title insurance
  • Prior SurveyRefinance only — may save on survey cost
Download Printable Checklist (PDF)

Additional Disclosures

Disclosure

Credit Authorization

When you apply for a mortgage, the lender pulls a hard inquiry — this is different from a soft pull used for pre-qualification.

Soft Inquiry
  • Does not affect your score
  • Pre-approvals, background checks, checking your own credit
Hard Inquiry
  • Minor impact on your score
  • Required when a lender formally underwrites your loan
Disclosure

Loan Estimate (LE)

Issued within 3 business days of your mortgage application. Use it to compare loan offers across lenders.

  • Interest rate, monthly payment, and loan amount
  • Estimated closing costs
  • Estimated taxes and insurance
  • Any prepayment penalties or balloon payments
Disclosure

Closing Disclosure (CD)

Issued at least 3 business days before closing. This is the final version of your Loan Estimate — review it carefully before signing.

  • Final loan terms and monthly payment
  • Exact closing costs and cash to close
  • Detailed fee breakdown — lender fees, escrow, title insurance, etc.
Disclosure

Mortgage Servicing

This disclosure tells you whether your lender intends to keep and service your loan after closing, or transfer it to another company.

It's common for loans to be sold or transferred — this does not change your loan terms, only who you send payments to.

Non-QM

Non-QM Loans

Non-QM loans (bank statement, DSCR, asset-based, etc.) follow their own disclosure requirements, which may differ from standard agency loan disclosures.

Note: Always verify with your loan officer or compliance team which specific disclosures apply to your Non-QM product.
HELOC

HELOC Loans

Exempt from TRID

HELOCs and other open-end credit products are exempt from TRID (the Loan Estimate / Closing Disclosure framework). They are governed instead by Regulation Z for open-end credit.

This means the disclosure timeline and document format will look different from a standard purchase or refinance mortgage.