The Scavenger Hunt Phase
You find your dream home. You make an offer. It gets accepted! And then your lender calls and says, "We need that one bank statement from 2022 by 5 PM today or we miss our deadline." Panic ensues.
Avoid the panic. Gather these documents NOW, put them in a Google Drive folder called "Homebuying 2025," and be the easiest client your lender has ever had.
Lenders aren't being nosy because they want to. They are required by federal law to verify every dollar coming in and going out. If you Venmo'd your friend $500 last month, they might ask about it.
The Essential Checklist (W-2 Employee)
If you have a standard job, this is your starter pack:
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ID: Driver's License or Passport (Current, not expired)
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Pay Stubs: The last 30 days of pay stubs
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W-2s: The last 2 years (2023 and 2024)
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Tax Returns: The last 2 years of 1040s (all pages, even the blank ones)
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Bank Statements: The last 2 months for all accounts (Checking, Savings, 401k) - All pages required
Create a dedicated Google Drive or Dropbox folder now. Download PDF versions of everything. Being organized gives you speed, and speed gets your offer prioritized.
Special Situations
Not everyone fits the standard W-2 mold. Here's what you need if your situation is more complex:
Self-Employed
You'll need additional documentation including business tax returns, profit and loss statements, and possibly bank statements for your business. Check out our Self-Employed Guide for the complete list.
Divorced
You'll need your Divorce Decree to prove alimony or child support obligations (or income). This affects both your debt-to-income ratio and qualifying income calculations.
Gift Funds
If parents or family are helping with the down payment, you'll need a signed "Gift Letter" (your lender provides the template) and proof of their transfer into your account.
Paperwork Myths Debunked
Myth: "I can just send screenshots of my bank app."
Reality: Lenders need official PDF statements. Screenshots are easily faked, and underwriters will reject them 100% of the time. Log into your bank's website and download the actual PDF statements.
Myth: "They already have my info from the pre-qualification."
Reality: Pre-qualification often relies on self-reported numbers. Pre-approval and final underwriting require hard proof. Expect to send updated documents like your most recent pay stub right before closing, too.
Even after you're "clear to close," your lender may request one final verification of employment and updated bank statements. Keep your documents current and accessible throughout the entire process.
The Feeling of Being "Clear to Close"
The Good: Being organized gives you speed. When you can reply to a lender's request in 5 minutes with a perfectly labeled PDF, they prioritize your file. You become the client who makes their job easier.
The Hard: Digging up tax returns from two years ago is annoying. Calling your HR department for verification is annoying. Do it anyway. The alternative is watching your dream home go to someone else because you couldn't produce a document.
Our Promise: We'll help you anticipate the requests so you aren't scrambling at the last minute. The lenders in our verified network know exactly what documents to request and when, eliminating surprises.