Applying for your first mortgage can be intimidating and feel overwhelming. You may be asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” At ChoiceOne Bank, we want you to feel confident and educated when making financial decisions. We’ll help you apply right from the start letting you know where to begin, what information you’ll need, and what to expect after you have completed your application. We work with you from start to finish and most likely become lifelong friends.

Where to Begin:

To begin the process of applying for a mortgage, you’ll want an idea of what your price range is for a new home. This information will help you and your lender decide how much you will need to borrow from the bank. If you’d like help figuring out what your price range is before you meet with your lender, you can use our mortgage calculator here:

How much would my monthly payment be?

This calculator can also give an estimate of your monthly payment, depending on the rates, your down payment, and more. So, if it’s late at night and you want to play around with some scenarios this is the place to do it. But we love to talk with our first-time home buyers, too!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

Once you’ve decided on your price range, you’ll need to gather some documents that will help us qualify you for the loan amount you’ll need to buy your new home. Here’s a list of what you’ll need to begin the loan application – think of this as your own little mortgage checklist:

• Two Year History
• Your address and your landlords
• Name and address of employers
• Income Documents
• Previous 30 days of pay stubs
• Copy of W-2s for previous two years
• Assets Statements
• Last two months’ bank/credit union statements
• Last two months’ statements for IRA, 401k, pension, mutual funds, and all other assets
• If Self-Employed
• Personal tax returns past two years
• Corporate tax returns past two years

How to Apply:

Once you’ve gathered all the necessary documents, and have a good idea of your price range, you’re ready to begin the application process. There are many ways you can apply for a mortgage with ChoiceOne Bank. You can book an appointment with a mortgage officer, apply online at www.choiceone.com, call us at 616.887.7366 and ask for a mortgage lender, or you can visit one of our 12 branches and tell them that you’re looking to get a mortgage. From there, your experienced mortgage lender will tell you everything you need to know, what you can expect with the process, and what you need to be a serious buyer when getting a home. For more questions or concerns, email us today: hello@choiceone.com.

With the right tools, and expertise at ChoiceOne Bank – you are ready to apply for a mortgage with ease. Looking to apply? Call us today at 616.887.7366! ¡Hablamos español también!

We are here to help you from start to finish…and look forward to becoming friends!