Documents needed for a mortgage pre-approval in Florida.

The initial application does not require any documents. You answer questions about your income, assets, and the home you want, and that is it. After that, Ryan reviews what you entered and tells you exactly which documents your loan needs. You will not have to guess, and you will not need to gather everything at once.

This page is a preview so you can get a head start. Which items apply depends on your job, the loan program, and your lender, so use it as a guide rather than a final list.

If you are paid through payroll, lenders usually ask for:

• ☐Pay stubs covering the most recent 30 days
• ☐W-2s for the last 2 years
• ☐Government-issued photo ID (driver license or passport)
• ☐Bank statements for the last 2 months, every page, for each account you will use for funds to close
• ☐Social Security number, used to verify identity and pull credit when you are ready

Lenders look at your net income after business deductions, so they want to see the full picture of your business:

• ☐Personal tax returns for the last 2 years, with all schedules and pages
• ☐Business tax returns for the last 2 years, with all schedules, if you own a business entity
• ☐A year-to-date profit and loss statement
• ☐Business license or proof the business has been active (for example, a Sunbiz registration)
• ☐Business bank statements for the last 2 months
• ☐Personal bank statements for the last 2 months, every page
• ☐Government-issued photo ID

If your tax returns show less income than you actually earn, ask Ryan about alternative income programs before you apply.

If you plan to use these accounts for your down payment, closing costs, or reserves:

• ☐The most recent 2 months of statements for each 401(k), IRA, brokerage, or other account, all pages
• ☐Vested balance information for any 401(k) you may borrow against
• ☐If you are retired and using retirement income to qualify: award letters, 1099-R forms, or proof of distributions

Many loan programs let a family member gift you part of the down payment. The lender needs to confirm the money is a true gift and not a loan:

• ☐A signed gift letter stating the amount, the donor, the relationship, and that no repayment is expected
• ☐A statement from the donor showing the funds were available and the transfer out
• ☐Your own statement showing the gift deposit, once it arrives

Who counts as an acceptable donor depends on the loan program, so check before the money moves.

On top of the standard income and bank statements above, VA buyers typically need:

• ☐Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Ryan can often request this for you online.
• ☐DD-214 (separation papers) for veterans, or a statement of service for active-duty members
• ☐Surviving spouses: documents showing your eligibility, which Ryan will walk you through

FHA and first-time buyer loans use the same core paperwork as the lists above. A few extras come up often:

• ☐If you are using down payment assistance: the program may require a homebuyer education certificate and its own forms
• ☐If you have been renting: your rental history (see Other items below)
• ☐If you have little or no credit history: proof of on-time payments such as rent, utilities, or insurance
• ☐The purchase contract once you are under contract

• ☐Divorce decree and, if you pay or receive them, child support or alimony documents
• ☐A short explanation letter for any large deposit that is not from your paycheck
• ☐A short explanation letter for recent credit inquiries or for gaps in employment
• ☐Rental history, such as your landlord name and contact information, or 12 months of proof of rent payments
• ☐Student loan, auto loan, and credit card statements if something looks unclear on your credit report
• ☐HOA or condo association information, once you are under contract on a home that has one

Lenders may ask for more than what is listed here. That is normal and does not mean something is wrong.

• ☐Do not move money around between accounts. Every transfer may need to be explained and documented.
• ☐Do not open new credit, finance a car, or co-sign for anyone before you close.
• ☐Label large deposits. If you can, note where the money came from and keep the paper trail.
• ☐Upload full multi-page PDFs of statements, with every page included, instead of photos that are cut off.
• ☐Respond to requests quickly. Most delays are waiting on documents, not on underwriting.
• ☐Do not change jobs or make big purchases without talking to Ryan first.