Buying a Home? Grab These 7 Documents First

Key Takeaways

• 📄 You’ll need to show how much money you make, what you owe, and where your money comes from.
• 📋 Most people need 7 things: tax returns, pay stubs, bank info, credit check, gift letter (if needed), photo ID, and rent history.
• ✅ The better your paperwork, the smoother your loan process will be.

If you're getting ready to buy a home, there's some paperwork you’ll need to gather first. Lenders want proof that you earn enough, pay your bills, and have steady money coming in. Here’s what you’ll probably need:

🧾 1. Your Taxes

They’ll want to see your last couple of tax returns to make sure your income has been steady.

💼 2. Proof You Get Paid

This means recent pay stubs or direct deposit records. If you get money from other places—like a side job or support payments—have that proof, too.

🏦 3. Bank and Savings Info

Lenders want to know you’ve got cash in the bank—enough to make a down payment and cover a few mortgage payments if times get tough.

📊 4. Your Credit Check

They’ll run a credit report. The better your score, the better your loan options. Different loans have different score requirements.

🎁 5. Gift Money? Show the Letter

If someone’s giving you money for your home, you’ll need a signed note saying it’s a gift, not a loan.

🪪 6. Photo ID

Just a regular ID like a driver’s license to prove you are who you say you are.

🏠 7. Renting Record

If you’ve been renting, they might want to see proof that you pay on time—like canceled checks or a note from your landlord.

Start gathering these now and you’ll be ahead of the game when it’s time to apply.