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Paper Avalanche: Docs That Unlock Grosse Pointe Homes

by Michael Taormino on January 13, 2026

Loan applications in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, demand paperwork stacks taller than Lake St. Clair waves, but skip the prep and watch your waterfront dream sink. This posh Detroit suburb sees median home prices flip at $440,000, up 24% year over year, with buyers scrambling in a market as hot as summer on the Pointe. Lenders hunt proof you’re no flake—gather these docs to cruise through without capsizing.

ID and Basics: Who Are You?

Start with photo ID (driver’s license or passport) and Social Security card—lenders verify you’re real, not a ghost chasing Grosse Pointe colonials. Proof of residence history (12 months back) via utility bills or leases pins your tracks. Name mismatches? Birth certificate or court orders fix it fast—no drama.

Bank statements (two months, all pages) show cash flow; hide nothing, or underwriters sniff fraud. In Grosse Pointe’s competitive scene, where homes sell in 22 days, quick ID clears pre-approvals to snag bids.

Income Proof: Show Me the Money

W-2s from two years and recent pay stubs (30 days) scream steady job for salaried folks. Bonuses or overtime? Attach verification letters. Self-employed? Two years’ tax returns (personal/business), profit-loss statements, and 1099s prove your auto shop or boutique thrives.

Renters with side cash supply Schedule E, leases, and property tax bills. Retirees flash pension stubs, Social Security 1099s, and bank deposits. Michigan’s no-fuss taxes help, but lenders average two years for stability—no recent job hops without letters.

Asset Avalanche: Cash Reserves Count

Two months’ statements for checking, savings, 401(k)s, IRAs—every page, even zeros. Gift funds for down payments? Donor gift letter and their bank proof (no repayment expected). Down payment from retirement? Early withdrawal penalties noted.

Rental properties? Mortgage statements, insurance, and taxes for each. Grosse Pointe buyers tap equity from older homes; lenders demand reserves for six months’ payments post-close. Fake balances get flagged—transparency wins races.

Debt Dive: What Owes You?

Credit report pulls debts automatically but provides student loan statements, auto loans, and credit card statements (last 3 months). Child support or alimony? Court orders and proof. Debts over 10 months? Payment histories lower DTI ratios.

Divorce decrees detail who pays what; bankruptcies (two years post-discharge) need full petitions. Grosse Pointe’s high-end market loves low DTI under 36%—pay down cards pre-app to shine.

Property and Extras: The House Hunt

Purchase agreement (signed by all) launches appraisal; homeowners’ insurance quote binds it. FHA/VA? Specific forms like COE for vets. Self-employed extras: CPA letters on business health.

Misc: Bankruptcy papers, eviction records (if any), or explanation letters for credit ding. In Michigan’s quick-close scene, digital uploads speed it up—paper trails slow it down.

Superior National Bank: Your Grosse Pointe Paper Pushers

Paper phobia? Superior National Bank streamlines Grosse Pointe loans with local know-how and fast reviews. Hit to upload docs and lock rates before inventory vanishes.