Residential · Guide

First home: the checklist
and the order of operations

Most first purchases go sideways in the paperwork, not the house hunt. Here's the order that works.

By Dawn M. Muñoz · Stonehaven Lending · Updated August 13, 2026

The Short Answer

Documents first, qualification second, house third. Run it backwards and you discover your real budget mid-contract - the most expensive moment.

The Documents

Gather these before you apply

  • iPay stubs - most recent 30 days.
  • iiW-2s - two years (self-employed: two years of full tax returns).
  • iiiBank statements - two months, every page.
  • ivID - government-issued, unexpired.
  • vDebt picture - statements for loans and cards.
  • viGift letter - if family is helping; wire early, paper properly.
  • viiRent history - landlord contact or 12 months of payments.
What Stalls Files

The classics, so you can skip them

Large unexplained deposits. New debt mid-process (the car can wait). Job changes without telling your lender. Undisclosed obligations. Disclose early and none are fatal.

The Qualification

Real budget, credible offer

A genuine qualification - documents reviewed, not an instant web letter - makes your budget real and your offer credible. Start in the mortgage calculator, then verify.

Program Fit

First-timers have options others don't

FHA, low-down-payment conventional, state assistance - and eligible veterans should look at VA first. Get the fit right at the start.

Start In Order

Have a specialist sequence your purchase

Fifteen minutes on timeline, documents, and program fit.

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