Foreign National Loan
America remains a top tourist attraction worldwide, with over 79 million foreign visitors a year. Many are seduced by the American Dream and sooner or later they wonder how they could become owners of real estate in the US. Although more than 70% of foreign real estate investors had paid in full for their purchases, the remaining buyers have to qualify for a mortgage. And since conventional mortgages are out of their reach, the only option is a foreign national loan, or real estate investment trusts (REIT).
What makes foreign national loans appealing? The fact that there is no age restriction. Individuals may qualify for a 30-year mortgage even if they are 70 years old. Foreign National Loans can be secured by individuals, LLCs, corporations, or offshore companies. The interest rates can be both fixed and adjustable, with amortization periods of 15, 20 and 30 years. Foreign National Loans, also known as ITIN loans, as the borrower must obtain an international tax identification number from the IRS, must be used only for real estate investments, or non-owner occupied properties. They cannot be used to finance a primary residence.
ITIN loans are usually used to buy properties in the US by undocumented immigrants as well as by foreign investors. They have to save at least 20% for a downpayment, but most of them keep up with their monthly payments, and so far defaults have been extremely rare.
Credit unions are more likely to lend money under the provisions of a Foreign National Loan, as they compete against larger banks and online lenders. In the absence of a social security number, they rely on ITINs, driver license, letters from employers and bank statements. ITIN loans are available from a few dozen lenders across the US, such as Illiana Financial, Point West, Guadalupe Credit Union, Latino Community Credit Union, and Alterra Home Loans. All in all, Foreign National Loans are quite easy to obtain and will continue to lure real estate investors both inside the US borders and outside of them.
Popular Real Estate Terms
Ownership rights to the minerals or other precious resources, such as petroleum, in one's property. A property owner having the mineral rights to the property can do one of three things ...
Small navigable body of water having limited water access and egress. Coves are often secluded and acts as a boating anchorage. Concave or cratered corner molding. A hollow cornice. ...
Latin term meaning legal capacity to act on behalf of oneself. ...
A fully amortized mortgage necessitating periodic payments of both interest and principal. In the early years of the loan, the share of principal is smaller and the interest larger, a ...
The appraisal approach is used to estimate the value of an asset, based on various factors to reach the closest educated guess of the asset. While an appraisal approach does consider the ...
Mock closing; all information is available prior to an actual closing in order to insure all documents are properly executed by the appropriate parties. A preclosing is normally used only ...
Contractor who constructs new roofs or repair old ones. ...
A corporation that owns housing units and whose tenants purchase shares in the corporation equivalent to the value of their housing unit. Also called co-ops. ...
A cooperating broker or agent defines a real estate broker who helps another broker in a private property transaction. Typically, the cooperating broker represents the seller and is ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.