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Fidelity Residential home
Foreign national loans

Foreign national mortgage loans: finance a US rental property from abroad.

With a foreign national mortgage, buyers who live outside the United States can finance a rental property here without US income, US tax returns or, at some programs, any US credit history. The loan can be qualified on the property’s expected rent. For business purposes only.

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  • NMLS #103098
  • Equal Housing Lender

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Fidelity Residential · NMLS #103098 · Equal Housing Lender

  • Direct, licensed lenderNMLS #103098. Check our licences on NMLS Consumer Access.
  • A licensed loan officerA real person reviews your file and answers your questions, across time zones.
  • Several foreign national programsWe compare programs to find the rules that fit your property and your file.
  • Apply online or by phoneStart a quote, apply online or call 732-686-9999.
The basics

What a foreign national loan is

A foreign national loan is a mortgage for someone who lives and works outside the United States and wants to buy or refinance a rental property here. It is a business-purpose loan: nobody on the loan will live in the property. Buyers who live abroad can finance a rental without US income, US tax returns or, at some programs, any US credit history.

Most programs qualify the loan on the property’s expected rent rather than on the buyer’s income. The rent must usually cover the full monthly payment, with taxes, insurance and any association dues; one program accepts rent covering as little as three quarters of the payment at a lower loan amount. A US credit score is not required: a foreign credit report or bank reference letters can be used, and some programs need neither.

Some programs also lend to a buyer who lives abroad on a vacation home here; that is a consumer loan with its own rules, so ask a loan officer about it separately.

Who it suits

  • Investors who live outside the United States buying a US rental property for the first time or adding to a portfolio
  • Owners who live abroad refinancing a rental they already hold, including to take cash out
  • Buyers with no US credit history, using a foreign credit report, bank reference letters, or at some programs neither
  • Buyers who hold title in a company, such as a US limited liability company, with a personal guarantee

Business purpose investor loans are for investment property only.

Foreign national loans at a glance

  • What it is: a business-purpose mortgage on a US rental property for a buyer who lives outside the United States, qualified on the property’s expected rent.
  • Who it is for: investors abroad buying or refinancing a rental, with or without a US credit history.
  • What you need: a passport and, where it applies, a visa; a foreign credit report or bank reference letters where the program asks; bank statements, converted to US dollars and translated; and an appraisal with a rent schedule.
  • The down payment: larger than for a US buyer; the figures on this page are dated and reviewed monthly.
  • Not: a loan for a home you will live in, and not available to buyers from countries under US sanctions.
The terms

What the programs offer

Each program has its own limits. The figures below are the most generous among the programs we work with, as of 11 October 2026, and are reviewed by 11 November 2026; they are not an offer, and no single program offers all of them together.

Buying a rental

Financing up to three quarters of the price

Financing of up to 75% of the price is available on a rental property purchase, with loans to $1.5 million at that level. As of 11 October 2026; reviewed by 11 November 2026.

Larger loans

Loans up to $3 million

Loans up to $3 million are available on a rental property at a larger down payment, of at least 40% of the price. As of 11 October 2026; reviewed by 11 November 2026.

Kept by the lender

A portfolio program to $5 million

Through a portfolio program kept on the lender’s own books, a buyer who lives abroad can finance a rental property up to $5 million with income and assets documented, at 70% financing with a foreign credit report and 50% without one. As of 11 October 2026; reviewed by 11 November 2026. These loans are adjustable: the rate is fixed for a set number of years and then can change, so the payment can rise.

Portfolio adjustable-rate loans
Refinancing

Cash out on a rental you own

A cash-out refinance is available on a rental property owned by a foreign national at up to 70% of its value. As of 11 October 2026; reviewed by 11 November 2026.

The rent

Qualified on the rent

The property’s rent must usually cover the full monthly payment, with taxes, insurance and any association dues. One program accepts rent covering as little as three quarters of the payment, at a lower loan amount.

How rental-income (DSCR) loans work
The payment

Interest-only and prepayment options

Interest-only payment options exist at some programs; the payment rises when the interest-only period ends. A prepayment charge usually applies for the first years where state law allows, with a no-charge option at some programs.

How investor prepayment charges work
Requirements

Foreign national loan requirements: what the programs look at

Each program has its own rules. These are the ones they share, in words; a loan officer can tell you which program fits you.

  • Credit: a US credit score is not required. A foreign credit report or bank reference letters can be used, and some programs need neither. If you have US credit, it is reviewed.
  • The rent: an appraisal with a rent schedule and, on a refinance, the lease and proof the rent is received. The rent must usually cover the full monthly payment.
  • Funds: documented with bank statements, converted to US dollars and translated. Closing funds are moved into a US account or wired to the closing agent before closing.
  • Reserves: most programs want twelve months of payments in reserve after closing, some six.
  • Title: in your own name, or at several programs in a US limited liability company with a personal guarantee.
  • Signing: documents can be signed abroad at a US consulate or, at some programs, by apostille.
  • Eligibility by country: buyers from countries under US sanctions are not eligible, and some states restrict buyers from certain countries. Every party is screened.
How it works

The steps to a foreign national loan

  1. Tell us about the property

    Where it is, the price or value, the rent it earns or is expected to earn, and whether you will hold title in your own name or in a company.

  2. Identity and credit

    Your passport and, where it applies, your visa; a foreign credit report or bank reference letters if the program asks; and the screening every party goes through.

  3. Funds and the appraisal

    Bank statements are converted and translated, closing funds are moved to a US account or wired to the closing agent, and the property is appraised with a rent schedule.

  4. Terms and closing

    You sign a statement that the loan is for business purposes and that nobody on the loan will live in the property, and a personal guarantee if a company holds title. Documents can be signed abroad at a US consulate.

Documents

What to prepare

Each program has its own list. Most buyers can start with these.

  • Your passport, and your visa where one applies
  • Proof of your home address abroad, such as a lease, a utility bill or a bank statement
  • A foreign credit report or bank reference letters, if the program asks for them, translated into English
  • Bank statements for the down payment, closing costs and reserves, converted to US dollars and translated
  • The lease and proof of rent received on a refinance, or the purchase contract on a purchase
  • Company papers if a US limited liability company will hold title, and a US bank account for the monthly payment
Questions

Common questions about foreign national loans

Can I buy a US rental property if I live outside the United States?

Yes. Buyers who live abroad can finance a rental property here without US income, US tax returns or, at some programs, any US credit history. The loan is for business purposes: nobody on the loan will live in the property.

Do I need a US credit score?

No. A foreign credit report or bank reference letters can be used, and some programs need neither. If you have US credit, it is reviewed.

How is the loan qualified without my income?

On the property’s expected rent, from the appraiser’s rent schedule and, on a refinance, the lease. The rent must usually cover the full monthly payment; one program accepts rent covering as little as three quarters of the payment at a lower loan amount. How rental-income loans work.

How much do I need for a down payment?

More than a US buyer. Financing of up to 75% of the price is available on a rental property purchase, with loans to $1.5 million at that level, and larger loans call for a larger down payment. As of 11 October 2026; reviewed by 11 November 2026.

Can I take cash out of a rental I already own?

Yes. A cash-out refinance is available on a rental property owned by a foreign national at up to 70% of its value. As of 11 October 2026; reviewed by 11 November 2026.

Where does my money need to be?

Funds are documented with bank statements, converted to US dollars and translated. Closing funds are moved into a US account or wired to the closing agent before closing. Most programs want twelve months of payments in reserve, some six.

Can I hold the property in a company?

At several programs, yes: a US limited liability company with a personal guarantee from the owners. Buying a rental in an LLC.

Do I have to travel to the United States to close?

Not usually. Documents can be signed abroad at a US consulate or, at some programs, by apostille. Your loan officer arranges the details with the closing agent.

Is anyone not eligible?

Buyers from countries under US sanctions are not eligible, and some states restrict buyers from certain countries. Every party to the loan is screened.

Do you lend in my state?

Fidelity Residential is licensed in many states. The full, current list is on NMLS Consumer Access (opens in a new tab), or call us at 732-686-9999.

Have a US property in mind?

Get a quote, apply online, or talk it through with a licensed loan officer.

This page is general information, not a commitment to lend. Programs, terms and eligibility depend on credit, property, rent and underwriting review and are subject to change without notice. The figures on this page are as of 11 October 2026 and are reviewed by 11 November 2026. Business purpose investor loans are for investment property only.

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