Every lender requires documents as part of the process of approving a mortgage loan. Here are documents you’re generally required to provide. W-2 Tax forms — or business tax returns if you’re self-employed — for the last two or three years for every person signing the loan. At least one pay stub for each person.

Know that there’s no “right” time to buy. If you find the perfect home now, don’t risk losing it because you’re trying to guess where the housing market and interest rates are going. Those factors usually don’t change fast enough to make a difference in an individual home’s price. Don’t ask for too many opinions..