- Lost a stack of closing docs once because my dog thought they were chew toys. Paper’s not exactly bulletproof.
- Had a laptop die mid-tax season—nearly lost my mind, but thank the cloud gods for backups.
- I do keep a few paper copies for the “just in case” moments, but honestly, my closet’s full of old paint cans and Christmas lights, not room for a safe.
- The real nightmare? Trying to get a copy of your mortgage statement from a bank after you’ve moved three times. Digital’s not perfect, but at least it doesn’t get eaten by pets or spilled coffee.
- Been there with the docs—my dog’s a serial offender too.
- I’ve started scanning everything right away, but still keep a folder of “just in case” papers.
- Mortgage statements? Half the time I can’t even remember my login for the bank’s site, let alone where my old papers are.
- If you ever find a foolproof system, let me know... Until then, I’m just hoping my next refi doesn’t need anything from 2014.
Mortgage statements? Half the time I can’t even remember my login for the bank’s site, let alone where my old papers are.
Honestly, most lenders these days only want the last couple years’ worth, but yeah, tracking down old docs can be a pain. I always tell people—keep digital backups, but don’t toss the originals just yet. You never know when someone will ask for that one random page from 2013...
Honestly, I get the urge to keep every scrap of paper “just in case,” but at a certain point it’s just clutter. In my experience, lenders rarely—like, almost never—ask for anything older than two years unless there’s some kind of audit or weird situation. I’d rather have my files organized and easy to find digitally than dig through a box every time. If you’re worried, scan and save the old stuff, but don’t let it take over your closet.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—people hang onto paperwork way longer than they need to. I’ve seen clients with boxes of statements from the 90s. Why keep it? If you’re worried about a lender asking for something, when’s the last time that actually happened? I always ask: is this paper helping you, or just stressing you out? Digital files are so much easier to search if you ever do need something.