What documents do I need for a mortgage pre-approval?

A mortgage pre-approval typically requires recent pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, bank statements and identification, along with authorization for a lender to pull a credit report, though the exact list varies by lender and loan program. Self-employed buyers usually need additional documentation covering a longer income history. Joel Boss connects buyers with a lender who lays out the exact document list before the process starts, so nothing holds up pre-approval unexpectedly.