Buying a home will likely be one of the largest investments of your life. There are a lot of steps along the way, but one of the most important steps in the process is gathering and submitting your financial documentation for analysis by your lender. Before you start home shopping, you are going to want a clear picture of your purchasing power and the monthly cost of your new home. This is determined during the pre-approval process. Once you are under contract, you will need to submit the balance of your documentation to ensure a smooth ride in underwriting.

The checklist below will help you gather documentation for your mortgage loan pre-approval and application.

How to prepare for your home purchase