Buying a home is a big commitment and you’ll want your finances to be in good condition before you start the process to ensure the best possible outcome. Gather your financial information, like recent tax returns, financial statements and pay stubs; your loan application will let you know what financial information is necessary. You should also review your credit score, take a look at your debt-to-income ratio and take other important steps to position yourself for receiving the best possible loan terms.

Use our Mortgage Application Checklist to quickly help you gather the documents you need in order to keep the loan process moving forward.

Before you begin shopping for a home, take a look at your budget and current expenses to determine what you can afford. You’ll want to evaluate your monthly incoming and outgoing funds to see where a down payment, closing costs and your new mortgage payment might fit in.

Once you know how much home you can afford, complete the application for a preapproval letter. The preapproval will let sellers know that you are a qualified buyer who is prepared to make a home purchase.

Now’s the time to determine all the traits that make up your perfect home. Research areas and neighborhoods of interest. Also, connect with a real estate agent, who can help you search smarter.

You’ll complete the application process you started with your preapproval request by submitting your documents and continuing through the loan process. This may sound simple, but it can be a big undertaking, depending on your employment status, residency, etc.

Our mortgage team will help you through each step of the loan process and make sure you know everything you need to know to close your loan with confidence.