 Once you decide on one, the lender will start asking you for documentation, like tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and on and on. It takes a while, so be patient and be ready for additional requests for additional documents again and again. It's just the way it works. Okay, so now you're saving money, fixing your credit, working with a realtor, and you're pre-approved for the loan. Now, there's just two more things on the timeline.