What a foreign national loan is
A foreign national loan finances US property for non-resident, non-US-citizen borrowers — no green card, no visa, no US credit history required. These programs underwrite the property and the borrower's documented foreign income and assets instead. Full program details →
How qualifying works
Sample qualifying snapshot: A strong file shows (1) a valid passport and foreign address documentation; (2) income documented from the home country — employment letters, foreign bank statements, or asset statements, sometimes with translation; (3) a larger down payment than resident programs require (foreign national LTV caps run lower); (4) reserves in US or foreign accounts. Exact LTV caps, documentation standards, and country considerations vary by investor and are subject to change.
Expect more down payment and more paperwork than a domestic file — the program compensates for the unknowns of cross-border underwriting with equity and documentation.
3 qualifying scenarios
Scenario 1 — The investor from abroad: A Canadian buyer wants a Phoenix rental. No US credit, no SSN. The DSCR-style foreign national program qualifies the property's rent with a larger down payment.
Scenario 2 — The second-home buyer: A UK family buys a Florida condo for winter use. Foreign income and assets documented, translated where needed, and the purchase closes without US residency.
Scenario 3 — The relocating executive: A transferee arriving in Texas on a work visa with no US credit history yet. The program bridges the gap between arrival and established domestic credit. Illustrative examples; exact terms vary by investor and are subject to change.
Check Your Eligibility — Foreign National Loans
60 seconds. No obligation, no hard credit pull. NMLS #7861.
Who foreign national loans are NOT for
- US residents with thin credit — domestic Non-QM programs (bank statement, ITIN) usually fit better and price better.
- Minimum-down buyers — foreign national programs require meaningful down payments; this isn't a low-down-payment product.
- Borrowers who can't document foreign income — the income still needs a paper trail, even if it's from another country.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa or green card?
No — foreign national programs are designed for borrowers without US residency status.
Do I need US credit history?
No. The file is underwritten on foreign documentation, the property, and a larger down payment.
How much down payment is required?
More than domestic programs — foreign national LTV caps are conservative. We'll quote your scenario exactly.
Can foreign nationals buy investment property or just second homes?
Both — investment properties and second homes are the core use cases, with DSCR-style qualification available for rentals.
Skip the Bank Runaround.
Purchasing US property from abroad? Tell us the country, the property, and the plan — we'll lay out the foreign national path.
Get Your Foreign National Loans Review
60 seconds. No obligation, no hard credit pull. NMLS #7861.
Guidelines change. Terms, pricing, and requirements vary by investor and are subject to change without notice. Examples in this article are illustrative only — not quotes, approvals, or commitments to lend. This article is educational, not loan advice. Confirm current guidelines with us before making an offer. NMLS #7861 · Equal Housing Opportunity.
