So you’ve found a home that you love and it’s time to apply for a mortgage.

To speed up the application process, be ready with the information your

lender will need. Gather each borrower’s tax returns for the last 2 years,

detailed information about employment for that period and copies of

pay stubs for the last 30 days of current employment.

Work with your lender to develop a loan that’s tailored to your needs.

If you only plan to be in your home for a few years, a 30 year mortgage

may not be right for you. Check all the options: Conventional, Conforming,

VA, FHA, WHEDA, etc. Learn about all the costs involved in advance as

these can vary by lender. Also determine who will service your loan.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!!

Once you’ve applied for your mortgage, stay in touch with your lender. Don’t

get frustrated if your lender needs additional documents. Start thinking about

what you’ll need to close. Are you hiring an attorney? How much money will

you need to bring to the closing table? When thinking about a closing date,

keep in mind that closing appointments can fill up quickly, especially at the

end of each month.

Here’s a link to an informative article on this subject from Forbes magazine:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2012/03/09/the-perfect-loan-file-2/

Good Luck!!