ITIN Loans
Home financing for borrowers who file taxes with an ITIN rather than a Social Security number.
- No Social Security number required — ITIN accepted
- Down payments start at 10%
- Documentation options: bank statements for self-employed borrowers, profit & loss, W-2s and paystubs, or two years of tax returns
- Available on primary residences and, on some programs, investment property
- Credit can be established through alternative tradelines where no traditional credit file exists
Ask About ITIN
An ITIN loan exists for borrowers who’ve been turned away elsewhere simply for not having a Social Security number — not for lack of income or intent to pay. We underwrite these using your ITIN, your income documentation and, where needed, alternative credit history, rather than treating the absence of an SSN as disqualifying.
How qualification actually works. Underwriting starts with the ITIN assignment letter. Income can then be documented four ways: bank statements for self-employed borrowers, a profit and loss statement, W-2s and paystubs, or two years of tax returns filed under the ITIN. Where a borrower has no U.S. credit file at all, a qualifying credit profile can be built from alternative tradelines — 12 months of on-time rent, utility, insurance, or phone payments, documented with statements or a letter from the provider.
What commonly slows a file down or disqualifies it. On a file documented with tax returns, a gap in the filing history — missing a year, or a very recent first ITIN filing — is the most common issue, since it breaks the income pattern underwriting relies on. Undocumented cash income doesn’t count no matter how real it is; it has to appear on a tax return or in bank deposits. Address inconsistency between the ID, the tax filings, and the loan application is another common flag, since it’s one of the few ways underwriting cross-checks identity on a file without an SSN.
How it compares to a conventional loan. A conventional or FHA loan is built around a Social Security number tied into the credit bureaus and verified employment history — an ITIN loan swaps that foundation for the ITIN, documented income and, where needed, alternative credit. The tradeoff is a larger down payment (starting at 10% versus FHA’s 3.5%) and a higher rate, since it’s underwritten as a non-QM product. For a borrower who simply doesn’t have an SSN, that tradeoff is usually the only path to buying property at all, rather than one option among several.
Who This Is For
- Borrowers who file taxes with an ITIN instead of an SSN
- Borrowers without an established traditional credit history
- Buyers who've been declined elsewhere for lacking an SSN
ITIN FAQs
Do I need a Social Security number to qualify?
No — ITIN loans are built specifically for borrowers who file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
How much down payment is required?
Down payments start at 10% — the exact amount depends on the program and your credit depth.
What if I don't have a traditional credit score?
We can build a qualifying credit profile using alternative tradelines like rent, utility, and insurance payment history.
What documents do I need to apply with an ITIN?
Your ITIN assignment letter from the IRS, a form of government-issued photo ID (a foreign passport or matricula consular is common), and income documentation in one of four forms: bank statements if you're self-employed, a profit and loss statement, W-2s and paystubs, or two years of tax returns filed under your ITIN.
Does my ITIN need to be a certain age to qualify?
Not necessarily. Two years of tax returns filed under the ITIN is one of four ways to document your income — bank statements for self-employed borrowers, a profit and loss statement, or W-2s and paystubs are the others. A loan officer can tell you which fits your file.
Can I buy an investment property with an ITIN loan?
Some ITIN programs allow investment property in addition to primary residences, typically with a larger down payment than an owner-occupied purchase requires.
Will underwriting count cash income I can't fully document?
Only documented income counts — cash income needs to show up in tax filings or bank deposits to be used for qualifying. Undocumented cash, even if real, can't be counted toward your approval.
How is my rate different from a conventional loan?
ITIN loans are a non-QM product, so rates run higher than a conventional or FHA loan to reflect the alternative documentation — but for a borrower who doesn't have an SSN at all, there often isn't a conventional option to compare it to.
Ready to Talk Through ITIN?
Tell us about your situation and we'll tell you honestly what it will take to qualify.
