Mortgage Documents, Samples, Winnipeg

Mortgage Documentation

When it comes to getting a mortgage approval, everything comes down to what can be proven on paper. Lenders won't take anyone's "word for it" these days.

When a Lender issues a mortgage, they need to have certain paperwork in their file to justify why they approved it.

The list of documents needed for a mortgage approval will be different for everyone.

The list will vary based on your financial situation, how you earn income, as well as your residency status here in Canada.

Below, you'll find the following information:

Intro to Docwire (the system I currently use to collect the documentation needed for your application)
What to do if you don't have a scanner
How to download a 90 day transaction history of your bank/investment accounts using your online banking system
How to combine multiple documents into one document for easy uploading into Docwire
A list of the most common documents needed for a mortgage approval along with a brief description of why they're needed and a document sample for you to look at for reference.

No Scanner? No Problem...

PDF format is the preferred format when submitting mortgage documents.

If you only have paper copies of some of the mortgage documents that we need from you and you don't have access to a scanner, here's what you can do.

With your Smartphone, you can download apps that will allow you to take photos of your papers and turn them into PDF documents...just like a scanner would.

The app I prefer to use is called Turboscan. There are versions for both Apple and Android phones. I use a paid version but I believe there a free versions for both platforms that will work just fine for your needs.

When it comes to taking the pictures, it's very important that the pictures are taken properly. Here are some tips:

make sure the flash is on
lay the document on the floor or on a table and make sure the paper is flat and your fingers aren't in the picture
make sure the entire document is in the picture...no cut-off corners
take the picture straight on, not from an angle

Here are some examples:

Picture of a check mark implying an approved mortgage document

Picture of an X indicating an unacceptable mortgage document

image of an x symbolizing an un-useable mortgage document

How To Download A 90 Day Transaction History of Your Bank Account

In order to be approved for a mortgage, you'll need to prove that you have the funds available to cover the required down payment and closing costs.

Because there are a lot of bad people out there doing bad things, there's something called anti-money-laundering regulations that all Lenders have to follow. These rules are in place to try and prevent people from using money acquired through illegal methods to purchase real estate.

To comply with these anti-money-laundering laws, Lenders are required to have a 90 day history on all bank/investment accounts that are being used to fund the purchase of real estate.

Any large deposits that show up within the 90 day history of the account must have a proper paper trail to prove that the money that was deposited came from a legal source.

Obtaining the 90 day account history can be easily done using your online banking system.

Here's an instructional video to show you how to do it.

How To Combine Multiple Documents Into One Document

When completing the list of needed documents in Docwire, sometimes you'll end up downloading multiple PDF documents but there's only one spot in Docwire to upload them so you'll need to combine the documents into a single PDF document.

There are a few different ways to combine multiple documents into one.

If you Google "Combine PDF" you can find a few websites that you can use for free but I can't guarantee the security of your information when you use these sites.

You can use software such as Adobe Acrobat or Nitro and I'm sure there are many others. These software programs are not free but have free trial periods that you could use for this purpose and then just cancel.

Another option is for you to just send me the individual documents and I will combine them into one for you.

Mortgage Document Samples

Sample Driver's License

This is the most common form of identification used to show legal name and current address.

Sample Permanent Residency Card

This document is used to prove Permanent Resident status in Canada.

Photo of a Manitoba drivers license card needed for a mortgage approval

image of a sample permanent residency card in Canada

Sample Work Permit

If you do not have permanent residency status, you may be able to qualify for a mortgage if you have a valid work permit.

Image of a sample Canadian work permit document for mortgage application purposes

Letter Of Employment / Job Letter

The Letter of Employment (a.k.a. Job Letter or Employment Letter) is a standard requirement for all mortgage applications. The job letter goes hand in hand with a paystub. The Employment letter shows Lenders the details of the applicant's position and the paystub confirms that the applicant is in fact working for that employer and earning the amount stated on the letter.

Image of a sample employment or job letter required for mortgage brokers in winnipeg to approve a mortgage

Sample Paystub

This provides a breakdown of your earnings and is a cross reference to the employment letter to confirm your income.

image of a sample employer paystub necessary for mortgage approval purposes

Sample T1 General

If you are self-employed or have multiple sources of income, the T1 General provides a breakdown of all of your gross and net earnings.

sample of a Canadian T1 General tax form for mortgage approval

Sample T4 - Employment Income Form

If your income fluctuates due to multiple income sources or your earn overtime or shift premiums, the T4 shows your total income from that specific employer for that specific tax year.

sample of Canadian T4 Employment income form

Sample T4A - Retirement Income, Pension, Annuity & Other Income Form

If you earn income in a way other than salary or wage (such as commission or pension for example) this form documents your income details for that specific income source for that specific tax year.

Image of a sample canadian T4a pension retirement annuity and other income form

Sample Notice Of Assessment (NOA)

The Notice of Assessment is issued by CRA as confirmation of your taxable income and whether there is money owing to CRA or not.

image of sample Canadian notice of assessment (noa) document

Sample Property Tax Statement

The property tax statement is issued annually by the city or municipality you live in as a notice of what your property taxes for that year will be.

image of a sample city of winnipeg annual property tax statement used for mortgage approval purposes

Sample Mortgage Statement

Sample Rent / Landlord Letter

If you currently have a mortgage, your mortgage Lender will issue an annual statement outlining the details of your mortgage such as the remaining balance owing, your mortgage payment, interest rate as well as the previous year's activity.

If you don't have a lot of established credit, whether you are young, new to Canada, or possibly you just don't use credit much, Lenders will often request something commonly referred to as "alternative forms of credit." What they are looking for is proof that you are capable of making regular payments on something. A preferred form of alternative credit is a "rent" or "landlord letter" because usually a monthly rent payment is a similar amount to what a mortgage payment would be so Lenders like to see that you're capable of a significant financial responsibility.

sample of a Canadian mortgage Lenders annual mortgage statement document mailed to the borrower near the beginning of each calendar year

Copy of a sample rent letter for mortgage approval through a mortgage broker in winnipeg

Mortgage Documents