Checklist: Home-buyer documents for mortgages

Here are some documents that you may be required to provide during the mortgage application process:

• Employment information. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all your employers for the last two years. If you are self-employed, you will probably need all business records and tax returns for the last three years.
  
• W2s. These are the forms you get from your employer every year to file your income tax returns. Usually you need W2s for the two most recent years. Other income information, such as Social Security, pension, interest or dividends, rental income, child support and/or alimony, and self-employment income may also be considered.
  
• Pay stubs. Save your pay stubs and furnish those from the 30-day period before the date of your mortgage application.
  
• Federal income tax returns. If you are self-employed, or more than 25 percent of your income comes from commission, overtime or bonuses, you may need to provide complete copies of federal income tax returns you filed for the two most recent years.
  
• Bank statements. You may need to provide statements from all your accounts (checking, savings, mutual funds, money markets, certificates of deposits, 401(k) or other retirement accounts) for the last two months to verify the exact amount of cash you have available for your down payment and other costs associated with your home purchase.
  
• Current debts. Be prepared to provide the account numbers, current balances and the minimum monthly payments of all credit accounts, such as loans, credit cards, child support and other payments you make each month.