What do I have to do to apply for a mortgage?
Short answer
To apply, you give a lender facts about your finances and about the home you want to finance. The CFPB describes a first step as requesting written Loan Estimates from several lenders, then telling the chosen lender you want to proceed. After that, you provide supporting documents and the lender completes its credit decision.
Full explanation
Applying means giving the lender a picture of your finances and of the house you want to finance. The CFPB describes the path in stages.
First, provide the initial application information the lender needs to issue proposed terms. The CFPB says a useful first step is to request a from three or more lenders so you can compare written offers. Receiving that form is not an approval.
Next, review the proposed terms and tell the lender you choose that you want to proceed. The lender can then ask for supporting documents to verify what you submitted. After it has what it needs, the lender completes underwriting and approves or denies the application.
Exact timing rules for issuing or expiring a Loan Estimate are covered in the dedicated Loan Estimate questions. This FAQ is about the application journey, not those deadlines.