Foreign National
No Social Security Number, no U.S. credit, no problem.
Foreign national programs finance U.S. property for buyers who live and earn abroad, using international credit references and foreign income documentation instead of a domestic credit file.
What makes this loan different
- No SSN or U.S. credit history required
- Foreign income and asset documentation accepted
- Typically 25% to 35% down
- Purchases, refinances, and investment property
Who this is built for
- International buyers purchasing U.S. real estate
- Executives on temporary assignment
- Families buying near a U.S. university
Substituting a credit file
In place of a U.S. credit report, lenders accept an international credit reference letter from a recognized institution, or in many cases two or three reference letters from banks and creditors in your home country confirming accounts in good standing.
Income can be documented with foreign employer letters, foreign tax filings, or foreign bank statements, often accompanied by a certified translation and a currency conversion.
Assets and structure
Funds are usually required to be seasoned in a U.S. account before closing. Title can frequently be held in an LLC, which many international buyers prefer for estate and privacy reasons.
What lenders typically ask for
- Valid passport, and a visa where applicable — some programs also accept documented foreign residency without a US visa
- Two or three credit reference letters from foreign financial institutions, since a US credit file generally does not exist
- International bank statements, often translated and converted to US dollars
- Proof that funds for down payment and closing have been transferred to and seasoned in a US account
- A US bank account in most cases, and sometimes a US-based reference
Requirements vary by lender and by file. This is a general picture of what is commonly requested, not a checklist for a specific loan.
Worth knowing
Down payment is substantially larger.
Foreign national programs commonly require considerably more equity than domestic financing, and the exact figure varies by lender, property type, and country of residence.
Country of residence can decide eligibility.
Lenders maintain their own restricted-country lists on top of federal sanctions requirements. A scenario that works with one lender may be ineligible with another for reasons unrelated to the borrower's finances.
Money has to arrive early.
Funds generally need to be in a US account and seasoned before closing. International transfers can take longer than expected, and this is the most common source of delay on these files.
Reference letters take time to collect.
Foreign institutions vary widely in how quickly they produce letters in the format a US lender wants. Starting that request early is usually the difference between a normal timeline and a stressful one.
See what this program would take in your case.
We are brokers — this program is shopped across hundreds of wholesale lenders, not quoted off one rate sheet. A short application gives us enough to compare real options.
Program availability, terms, guidelines, and documentation requirements vary by lender and are subject to underwriting and change without notice. This is not a commitment to lend.