What documents do I need to get pre-approved for a mortgage?

Getting pre-approved means a lender has pulled your credit and verified your income, assets, and debts. The document checklist is consistent across California lenders: a government photo ID and Social Security number, pay stubs covering the last 30 days, W-2s or 1099s and federal tax returns for the last two years, bank and investment statements for the last two months, and current statements for auto loans, credit cards, and student loans. Self-employed and commission borrowers add two years of business and personal returns, a year-to-date profit-and-loss statement, business bank statements, and often K-1s. Gifted down payment funds require a signed gift letter. The main qualification lenders verify is your debt-to-income ratio, which most want at or below about 43 percent. Letters usually expire after 60 to 90 days, and some competitive SoCal listings now want an 'underwritten' pre-approval where the loan is nearly fully vetted. Gather these documents before you start touring so you can move fast when you find the right home.