Mortgage education
How Foreign Nationals Can Buy Property in the United States
A common myth is that you must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder to buy American property. You don't. Foreign nationals can and do buy U.S. real estate, and there are loan programs built specifically for them.
You don't need citizenship or a green card
The United States generally allows non-citizens to own property, and there's no citizenship requirement to hold real estate here. What changes for a foreign national isn't whether you can buy — it's how the financing works, since traditional loans lean on U.S. credit and income documentation you may not have.
Loan options for foreign nationals
Specialized foreign national loan programs are designed around this exact situation. Rather than requiring a U.S. credit score and domestic tax returns, they use alternative documentation to establish your creditworthiness and ability to repay. For investment purchases, foreign national DSCR loans can qualify based on the property's rental income — a clean fit when your income and credit are abroad.
Documentation without a U.S. credit history
Lenders offering these programs accept alternatives to the standard U.S. file:
- Credit references or reports from your home country.
- Letters from your foreign banks confirming your accounts in good standing.
- Documentation of income and assets from abroad.
- A valid passport and visa, where applicable.
We go deeper on building a U.S. loan file without American credit in a dedicated guide.
Down payment expectations
Foreign national loans typically ask for a larger down payment than loans for U.S. residents — often a substantial percentage down. This reflects the added complexity and the lender's reduced ability to rely on U.S. credit. In exchange, you get access to U.S. property ownership and financing that many borrowers assume isn't available to them.
Whether it's a home or an investment
Foreign nationals buy for different reasons — a vacation home, a place for family, or as an investment. The available programs can accommodate both personal-use and investment purchases, though the specific terms differ. Knowing your purpose up front helps match you to the right program.
Your situation is what matters
If you're a foreign national who assumed U.S. property was out of reach, it likely isn't. Tell us your situation and we'll walk you through the options and what you'd need.