This is more than the lender asked for.

Use this checklist to ensure you have everything the lender will ask for in order to complete your application.

Many lenders are also asking, before closing a loan, for evidence of a cash reserve equivalent to two months' payments.

"In some cases the lender will ask for a much larger deposit, possibly 20 - 30% - to safeguard themselves," he says.

On one-year adjustable-rate mortgages, lenders were asking an average initial rate of 8.25 percent.

The lender may ask you for the contact information of a few friends and family.

Without the need to answer the myriad of questions lenders ask prior to granting a mortgage they often overlook key issues.

The lender will ask for a bank reference and check that you were able to keep up payments on your previous commitments.

"The lender asked us to up the insurance, and we had to do it."

Many lenders ask for three years' financial information.