Loan Document Checklist
AAPL Member · Direct Lender Since 2016 · NMLS #1979189
The fastest closings come down to one thing: a borrower who has their documents ready. Because we underwrite the property rather than your income, the list is far shorter than a bank’s — no two years of tax returns, no W-2s, no pay stubs — but the items we do need, we need complete and accurate. Use this checklist to assemble your file before you apply, and you’ll close on the fast end of our funding timeline instead of waiting on yourself. Here’s exactly what to gather, by category.
On the Borrower / Entity
Most investor loans close in an entity, so we start there.
- Entity documents — your LLC's Articles of Organization, Operating Agreement, EIN, and (where applicable) Certificate of Good Standing.
- Government ID — a driver's license or passport for each guarantor.
- Proof of funds — recent bank or asset statements showing the cash for your down payment, closing costs, and reserves.
- Authorization to pull credit — we run a hard credit report; there's no minimum score, but we do need your consent.
Notably absent: tax returns, W-2s, and pay stubs, because we don’t underwrite personal income.
On the Property
This is the heart of an asset-based file.
- Purchase contract (for an acquisition) or proof of ownership and current mortgage statement (for a refinance).
- Comps — recent comparable sales supporting your value or after-repair value. A clean comps package is one of the biggest accelerators of a fast close.
- Property photos and, where relevant, an inspection report.
- Insurance — a property/hazard insurance binder naming the lender; for a vacant or rehab property, builder's-risk or vacant-property coverage.
- Title information — a preliminary title report or commitment, which the title company typically produces.
For a Rehab or Construction Loan
If you’re renovating or building, add the project package. For a fix and flip or hard money loan, that’s a scope of work and a line-item rehab budget. For a ground-up construction loan, add architectural plans, a detailed construction budget, permits (or a clear path to them), and a timeline — plus your contractor / GC details and track record, especially important where you’re newer to building. These drive the draw schedule, so the more accurate and phased the budget, the smoother your draws.
For a DSCR / Rental Loan
For a long-term rental, the income side replaces personal income docs: a lease agreement (for a tenanted property) or a market rent estimate / appraisal Form 1007 (for a vacant one), used to calculate the DSCR; a rent roll and operating statement for a multifamily building; and property tax and insurance figures to complete the payment side of the ratio.
The Checklist at a Glance
The Checklist at a Glance
A Few Tips to Close Faster
Assemble the file before you apply, not as we ask for pieces — that single habit is the difference between a one-week and a three-week close. Make your comps and budget realistic; numbers that don’t hold up at valuation cause the most delays. Keep your proof of funds current (most recent statements). And stay responsive — a signature or a missing page you return same-day keeps the file moving. The full step-by-step is on our lending process page, and the qualifying standards behind each item are on the requirements page.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Because we underwrite the property rather than your personal income, there are no tax returns, W-2s, or pay stubs required on any of our investor loans. The file centers on the property, your entity, and proof of funds instead.
A clean comps package that supports your value or after-repair value, alongside a complete file submitted up front. Valuation is usually the gating step, so comps that hold up — and having every other document ready — are what speed things along.
The income side: a signed lease for a tenanted property, or a market rent estimate (appraisal Form 1007) for a vacant one, plus property tax and insurance figures to complete the DSCR calculation. No personal income documentation.
The project package — architectural plans, a detailed phased construction budget, permits or a clear path to them, a timeline, and your contractor’s details and track record. These also drive your draw schedule once the loan funds.
Most investor loans close in an LLC, since they’re business-purpose loans, and we’ll need your entity documents. It’s not always strictly required, but it’s standard and recommended for liability protection, so most borrowers have one in place before applying.
Get your file ready.
The more of this short, asset-based list you have ready, the faster we close — often days, not weeks. We’ve helped investors close quickly since 2016.