To get approved for a mortgage, there are quite a few documents you’ll need to get in place before starting the process. These documents will typically need to be emailed or uploaded onto a loan portal so having digital copies/PDFs of everything is crucial. Getting organized before you apply will get you get approved faster and make your life and your lender’s life easier!

The main documents you’ll need to provide to get a mortgage are:

•  Proof of Identification: Such as a driver’s license or passport
• Income: Recent pay stubs and W2s or Tax Returns
• Assets: copies of bank statements
• Ownership Details:  other properties, vehicles, etc.

IDENTITY VERIFICATION

For any loan you are applying for, you will need to prove that you are who you say you are by verifying your identity. Since it’s common practice to use an online loan portal during the process, you can verify your identity online by simply uploading a photo of your ID.

You can verify your identity using the following:

• Driver’s license
• Current passport
• Birth certificate

PROOF OF INCOME

Once your identity is confirmed, you’ll then need to prove you can make monthly payments on your new mortgage. Your borrowing power is calculated using the net amount left after your monthly income and deducting your expenses.

Your proof of income can be shown by providing:

• Your last two pay stubs from your employer
• Last two years of W-2s and filed tax returns
• Additional documentation like child support, pension or other sources of income
• Any rental/investment or retirement income you earn

If you are using an online platform during the process, you can upload these documents directly to save you time!

EXPENSES, ASSETS & LIABILITIES

Before getting approved for a mortgage, lenders will require you to declare your expenses. You may be required to share expenses such as childcare, student loans, credit cards, insurances, medical/health expenses, utilities, etc. It’s a good idea to consider your everyday spending and reviewing your bank statements before applying so you can compare against a typical mortgage installment to make sure you’ll be able to afford your new mortgage payment. Many times borrowers can get pre-approved for a high loan amount because it doesn’t factor in what you might be spending daily or monthly and it’s easy to underestimate your expenses and forget simple everyday costs.

To ensure you are transparent in your spending, consider making a comprehensive list of your monthly expenses. By aligning your income and expenses, your lender can assess how much you can afford, and your ability to make monthly mortgage payments.

ASSETS

Assets are anything that has a monetary value. Lenders can use your asset position to assess your lifestyle and can impact your chances of approval negatively or positively.

Multiple assets may also make lenders feel more confident about your security as a borrower since the sale of these assets could help repay your mortgage in the event of an unexpected loss of income.

You’ll be asked to declare and provide details on:

• Properties you own
• Any vehicles you own
• The value of your home contents
• Your savings – two months bank statements
• Retirement savings/401k
• Any shares in stocks or managed funds
• Any investment savings

LIABILITIES

Liabilities are any financial debts or obligations you may have. Before being approved for a mortgage, lenders will need to know if you have any outstanding debts and how long the terms are.

You’ll be asked to provide details on any:

• Student loans
• Any other unpaid debt

By providing all of your income, debt and identification details, you are giving your lender the information they need to make sure you are comfortable giving you a mortgage! Keep in mind that while the above docs are standard for most loan applications, additional types of documentation may be required for specific loan products/types. The good news is that once you have gathered all relevant documents, you can upload and verify them by applying online by clicking on the button below.