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What Documents Do You Need for Pre-Approval?
The documents a lender usually asks for at pre-approval, how they differ for a W-2 employee and a retiree, and what makes a pre-approval real.
47 sec · Captions available on the player · Presented by AI-generated presenters, with every line taken from the FreeRateUpdate page it answers.
Source: FreeRateUpdate answer page, Sept. 29, 2026
Transcript
This is FreeRateUpdate News. I'm Edmund Ledger. Today's question: what documents do you need for a mortgage pre-approval?
Proof of income, a government photo ID and recent bank statements, plus your mortgage statement if you're refinancing.
A W-2 employee usually needs a recent pay stub and W-2s from the last one or two years.
Retirees can use a Social Security award letter or plan documents in place of pay stubs and W-2s.
The lender also pulls your credit.
A real pre-approval means a completed application with your income verified, not a quick online quote.
I'm Edmund Ledger, for FreeRateUpdate News.
What the charts show
One on-screen table of pre-approval documents. Everyone: a photo ID, bank statements and a credit pull. A W-2 employee: a recent pay stub and the last one or two years of W-2s. A retiree: a Social Security award letter or plan documents.