Buying U.S. real estate without a U.S. credit history, Social Security number, or domestic income doesn’t rule you out — it just changes which programs apply. Foreign National loans are built specifically for this: underwriting leans on verified assets, international credit or bank references, and a larger equity cushion in place of a FICO score and tax returns.

Down payments typically run higher than a standard conventional loan — often 25–30% — and documentation usually includes bank statements, a reference letter from a foreign bank, passport and visa documentation, and proof of funds sourced and seasoned appropriately. Rates run somewhat above domestic conventional pricing to reflect the reduced documentation, but the programs are real, active, and close regularly.

These loans are common for investment purchases and second homes alike. The paperwork looks different from a typical U.S. file, but the process — application, documentation, appraisal, underwriting, closing — follows the same shape.