Before you apply: a preparation checklist

Documents lenders typically want

Standard for W-2 borrowers:

• Two years of W-2 forms.
• Most recent 30 days of paystubs.
• Two months of statements for every account holding asset funds (checking, savings, brokerage, retirement).
• Two years of federal tax returns (sometimes required, sometimes not).
• Government-issued ID.
• Award letters or 1099s for any non-W-2 income.

Things people accidentally do that cost time

These are the patterns that derail otherwise-clean files:

• Large unexplained deposits. Underwriters will ask for source-of-funds documentation on any non-payroll deposit above a threshold. If you're consolidating money from multiple accounts before closing, document where every dollar came from.
• Opening new credit during the process. Even a small new card pull can change your credit profile and force re-underwriting. Pause new credit applications from when you start until you close.
• Job changes without warning. A planned career move can be fine; an unexplained gap that surfaces during verification is not. Mention it on the first call.
• Switching from W-2 to self-employed. Underwriting for self-employment usually wants two years of history. A recent switch can complicate the file.
• Cashier's checks for the down payment. Wires are easier to source than cashier's checks. Coordinate the wire path with your closing officer well before closing.

What helps the process feel smaller

• A single folder (digital or paper) where the documents above live, organized.
• A clear answer to “where does this deposit come from?” for any large non-payroll inflow in the last 60 days.
• Honest disclosure of anything unusual on the first call. Surprises late in underwriting cost more than disclosures up front.