Applying for a Mortgage: Using an Application Checklist

Applying for a home mortgage loan can feel a lot like an endless bottleneck of paperwork. From completing required applications to gathering the necessary financial documents, the process can be stressful.

Thankfully, you can lessen some of the financial management anxiety by assembling a checklist of the financial documents you might need before embarking on the loan process. Not only can a checklist help save you time, it might even help save your nerves.

The following is a basic home loan checklist to help get you started on your mortgage loan journey. Of course, you'll want to check with your lender to see what additional information and/or documentation they may require.

• A copy of your most recent pay stubs covering a 30-day period.

• A copy of your last two years of W-2 tax returns

• A copy of your credit report.

• Recent copies of all checking, savings, and retirement accounts - 401(k), mutual funds, etc.)

• Proof of other income sources such as pensions or income from rental property

• If you or your partner is self-employed you'll need a recent profit and loss statement, copy of your business license, and business tax returns

• If you're applying for a VA loan, you may also be asked to produce a copy of a DD 214 or Statement of Service from your commanding officer

Once you have all of your paperwork gathered, it's time to get organized. Use file folders, dividers, tabs, etc. to separate your paperwork in an organized fashion for easy access. You should also grab a notebook to jot down any additional items that your lender may need.

Visit the Protective Financial Learning Center for additional information on budgeting for your first home, as well as helpful information on understanding private mortgage insurance.