Can I buy a house with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number?
The full answer
An ITIN mortgage is a non-QM loan designed for borrowers who file U.S. taxes with an IRS-issued ITIN rather than an SSN. The government-backed programs (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA) all require a Social Security number, so ITIN loans come from lenders who hold the loans on their own books — community banks, credit unions serving immigrant communities, and non-QM portfolio lenders.
These programs typically require a larger down payment (often 15–25%), accept non-traditional credit (12 months of rent, utilities, and insurance payments) when you have no FICO score, and want a U.S. tax-filing history. Many ITIN programs aren't advertised, so you may need to ask lenders directly.
The ITIN loan often isn't permanent: once you obtain an SSN and build two years of U.S. credit and income history, refinancing into a lower-rate conventional loan becomes possible.
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Sources
Educational information only — not financial advice, and not a quote, pre-approval, or offer of credit. Program rules and ranges are illustrative and vary by lender. Mortgage Merlin is a publisher, not a lender or broker.