Financing
What documents do I need for a mortgage?
The short answer
Be prepared to provide recent pay stubs (last 30 days), W-2s or 1099s (last 2 years), tax returns (last 2 years), bank statements (last 2 months), and a valid government-issued ID.
The full answer
The standard document list: for most borrowers, the mortgage document list is the same well-known set: recent pay stubs covering the last 30 days; W-2s or 1099s for the last two years; tax returns for the last two years; bank statements for the last two months; and a valid government-issued ID. That set is the lender's way of verifying three things: your income, your assets, and your identity.
Why lenders ask for these: each document answers a question the lender must answer before lending. Pay stubs and tax returns confirm your income is real and consistent, and bank statements confirm your assets and the source of your funds.
Related questions