Which documents to prepare before you apply for a mortgage
A tidy file saves repeated questions and gives a clear picture of your income and commitments. The basics that come up in almost every deal, and what to add for each type of deal.
By Lidor Levin3 min readPreparing to apply
A mortgage application is assessed on the documents that come with it. A tidy, consistent file saves repeated questions and gives whoever reviews it a clear picture of your income, your commitments and your own funds. There is no single list that fits everyone, but there is a core that comes up in almost every deal.
The core: identity, income and your account
- ID card with its appendix for everyone who will be a borrower on the loan.
- Recent payslips for every salaried borrower.
- Recent bank statements for every account your income goes into or your spending goes out of.
- Details of existing loans: the balance, the monthly repayment and the end date.
How many months back? That varies between lenders and between deals, so it is worth finding out the exact number before you start collecting.
What to add for your type of deal
- Buying: the purchase contract, if it is already signed, and proof of your own funds.
- Refinancing: a current repayment schedule for the existing mortgage and a land-registry extract for the property.
- Self-employed: tax assessments and financial statements from your accountant, instead of payslips.
- After a refusal: the refusal letter, if you received one. It helps to understand what stopped the previous application.
Bank statements tell a story
Whoever reviews the application reads your statements to see how money actually moves. Going over your overdraft limit, bounced cheques or direct debits that were not honoured can raise questions. If something like that is there, it is better to know about it in advance and be ready to explain it than to discover it halfway through.
Before you send anything
- Make sure every page is legible and complete, margins included.
- Save each document as a separate file with a clear name.
- Check that names, numbers and dates match across documents.
- Don't send sensitive documents over an unsecured channel. If you're not sure how to send them, ask first.
The documents are one station on the route, and you only gather what your deal actually requires. More answers about the process are in the questions page.
Turn the paperwork into a file that can be checked
- Collect complete, readable files and name each one by document type and reporting period.
- Prepare supporting evidence for a large deposit or a change in income before someone asks about it.
- Ask for one consolidated list of missing documents and keep the latest version of each file, so conflicting figures do not circulate.
For what approval in principle means and the information behind it, see the Bank of Israel explanation.
Common questions
Do I need to bring every document to the first call?
No. On the intro call we get to know the deal, and only then is the exact list set. That way you only gather what is really needed.
What if a document is missing?
Say so early. Sometimes it can be obtained another way, and sometimes a different document will do. It is better to know before you apply.
General information only, not personal advice. Every figure here is for illustration.
Further reading
Want to look at this for your own case?
The exact list depends on your deal. On the intro call we'll go through it together, and you'll leave with a clear list of what to prepare.
Book an intro call
