Foreign-national financing
U.S. mortgage financing for Mexican buyers
“I have no U.S. credit — can I still buy?”
It's the question we hear most. For more than 20 years the answer has been the same: yes. There are financing programs built for foreign buyers that assess your verifiable income in Mexico instead of requiring a U.S. credit history.
Photo: Tuxyso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped
- 30–40%
- Typical down payment
- 12–24
- Months of statements and returns
- 45–60
- Days to close with financing
- 20+
- Years financing foreign buyers
The basics
How foreign-national loans work
A conventional U.S. bank scores your FICO. With no Social Security number and no history, it has nothing to qualify you on and declines you automatically. Foreign-national programs work differently: they replace credit history with demonstrated ability to pay and a larger down payment.
In practice, the lender reviews your bank statements, your Mexican tax returns, letters from your accountant and the relationship between your income and the projected monthly payment.
Photo: RightCowLeftCoast · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Photo: Redideo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · croppedWhat you'll need
Typical requirements
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Down payment of 30% to 40%
of the property value.
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Valid passport and visa
Tourist visa, residency or dual citizenship.
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Proof of income
12 to 24 months of returns and bank statements.
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Accountant's letter
validating your income.
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Reserves
Enough funds for several months of payments after closing.
-
ITIN
Not always required, but it improves your terms.
These are the usual ranges we see in the market, not an offer. Actual terms depend on the lender, on each applicant's profile and on market conditions.
Your terms
What determines your terms
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Immigration status
Permanent residency unlocks better rates than a tourist visa.
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Down payment size
The larger it is, the better the rate and the higher the odds of approval.
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Proof of income
Formal, declared income opens far more doors than informal income.
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Property use
A primary home usually gets better terms than an investment.
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Property type
A single-family home is easier to finance than a condo with restrictive rules.
Step by step
The process
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Pre-qualification
Free, 20 minutes. We review income, down payment and status to see if it's viable and in what range.
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Documentation
We give you the exact list. This is where the most time is lost if it isn't prepared in advance.
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Pre-qualification letter
With it, your offer is taken seriously. Without it, many sellers won't even consider it.
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Search and offer
Now that you know what you can truly afford.
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Formal approval
Appraisal, final review and definitive terms.
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Closing
Signing, escrow and handover of keys.
How long it takes
- 14–21 days
- All-cash purchase
- 45–60 days
- With foreign-national financing, from an accepted offer
Photo: Rufustelestrat · CC BY 2.5 · cropped
Avoid these
Mistakes we see often
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Falling in love with a house before knowing whether a loan is viable.
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Moving money between accounts right before applying: lenders need to trace the source of every deposit.
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Forgetting closing costs, which are an extra 2% to 5% on top of the price.
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Assuming Mexican and U.S. rates compare directly.
Photo: Wolfgang Moroder · CC BY-SA 3.0 · croppedTools
Estimate your payment
Estimate your monthly payment with our mortgage calculator, and if you want the full detail of the buying process, read the 2026 Mexican Buyer's Guide.
Pre-qualification is free and with no commitment
Message us on WhatsApp or call (619) 504-7777. In 20 minutes you'll know whether a loan is viable and in what price range.
Photo: Gregg M. Erickson · CC BY 3.0 · cropped