ITIN mortgages: a home loan when you file taxes with an ITIN.
With an ITIN mortgage, people who file US taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of a Social Security number can apply for a home loan. Here is how it works, who it suits, what the programs look at and what to prepare.
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- Several ITIN programsWe compare programs to find the rules that fit your file.
- Apply online or by phoneStart a quote, apply online or call 732-686-9999.
What an ITIN loan is
An ITIN loan is a mortgage for a person who files US taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, issued by the IRS, instead of a Social Security number. The loan works like any other mortgage: your identity, credit, income, savings and the home are all verified, and the lender makes a good-faith decision that you can repay the loan.
The home can be your main residence. Some programs also allow a second home or a rental property. A credit score is required, and the lender checks that the credit bureaus report under your own ITIN. Taxes and insurance are collected with the monthly payment.
These loans are not sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, so each program sets its own rules. A loan officer compares them for your file.
Who it suits
- People who file US taxes with an ITIN and want to buy or refinance a home
- Wage earners and the self-employed: income can be documented in several ways
- Buyers of a main home, and at some programs a second home or a rental property
- Borrowers with a shorter credit history: some programs accept rent, utility and phone payment records alongside a credit score
An ITIN loan is not a no-credit loan: every program asks for a credit score and checks it under your ITIN.
ITIN loans at a glance
- What it is: a mortgage for a person who files US taxes with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number.
- Who it is for: buyers and owners of a main home, and at some programs a second home or a rental property.
- What you need: a government photo ID and your ITIN card or IRS letter, a credit score reported under your ITIN, and income documents: a written verification of employment and tax transcripts, tax returns, bank statements or 1099s, depending on the program.
- The down payment: larger than on a standard loan; family gifts can help within program limits.
- Not: a no-credit loan. Income, credit, assets and the home are all verified.
ITIN mortgage 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.
- Identification: a government photo ID and your ITIN card or IRS letter. A visa is not among the documents the programs ask for.
- Credit: a credit score is required. Some programs accept a shorter credit history supplemented by rent, utility and phone payment records.
- Credit under your ITIN: the lender checks that the credit bureaus report under your own ITIN, not under someone else’s number.
- Income: a written verification of employment and tax transcripts, tax returns, one or two years of bank statements, or 1099s, depending on the program.
- Tax filings: some programs require two years of tax filings under the ITIN.
- The down payment: larger than on a standard loan. The largest financing in the programs we work with leaves the buyer putting down at least about a sixth to a fifth of the price, and more at lower credit scores or for larger loans.
- Gifts: gifts from family can help with the down payment within program limits.
- The home: your main residence; some programs also allow a second home or a rental property.
- Past credit events: a past bankruptcy or foreclosure does not automatically rule you out, but most ITIN programs want several years since the event.
- Taxes and insurance: collected with the monthly payment (escrowed).
The steps to an ITIN loan
Talk about your plan
The home you have in mind, whether you will live in it, how you earn your income, and how long you have filed taxes under your ITIN.
Identity and credit
Your photo ID and ITIN letter are checked, and your credit is pulled under your ITIN. If your credit history is short, some programs let rent, utility and phone records fill it out.
Income and savings
Your income is documented the way the program allows, and the money for the down payment, closing costs and savings after closing is verified.
Appraisal, underwriting and closing
The home is appraised, an underwriter reviews the file against the program’s rules, and you review your closing disclosure and sign.
What to prepare
Each program has its own list. Most borrowers can start with these.
- A government photo ID that has not expired
- Your ITIN card or the IRS letter that assigned the number
- Tax returns or tax transcripts filed under your ITIN
- Proof of income: a written verification from your employer, or for the self-employed bank statements or 1099s, as the program allows
- Bank statements for the down payment, closing costs and savings after closing, and a gift letter if family is helping
- Rent, utility and phone records if your credit history is short and the program accepts them
Common questions about ITIN loans
Can I get a mortgage with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number?
Yes. People who file US taxes with an ITIN can apply for a home loan through programs built for that. Your identity, credit, income, savings and the home are verified as on any mortgage.
Do I need a credit score?
Yes. Every ITIN program asks for a credit score, pulled under your ITIN. Some programs accept a shorter credit history supplemented by rent, utility and phone payment records.
How is my income documented?
With a written verification of employment and tax transcripts, with tax returns, with one or two years of bank statements, or with 1099s, depending on the program. Some programs require two years of tax filings under the ITIN.
How much do I need for a down payment?
More than on a standard loan. The largest financing in the programs we work with leaves the buyer putting down at least about a sixth to a fifth of the price, and more at lower credit scores or for larger loans. Gifts from family can help within program limits. A loan officer can compare programs for your price range.
Can I buy a second home or a rental property?
Most programs are for a home you will live in. Some also allow a second home or a rental property. Tell your loan officer which you have in mind.
What identification do I need?
A government photo ID and your ITIN card or the IRS letter that assigned the number. A visa is not among the documents the programs ask for.
What if I have had a bankruptcy or foreclosure?
It does not automatically rule you out, but most ITIN programs want several years since the event. Tell your loan officer the dates so the right program can be chosen. How lenders treat a past credit event.
Are taxes and insurance included in the payment?
Yes. Property taxes and homeowners insurance are collected with the monthly payment and paid from an escrow account.
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.
Ready to talk about an ITIN loan?
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, income, property and underwriting review and are subject to change without notice.
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