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7 Best Mortgage Lenders for ITIN Loans

ITIN loans are for borrowers who are ineligible for Social Security numbers. Compare NerdWallet's picks of mortgage lenders who offer ITIN loans.

By
Barbara Marquand
Feb 2, 2023

Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.

Best Mortgage Lenders for ITIN Loans

Lender
NerdWallet Rating
Min. credit score
Min. down payment
Learn more
New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

Learn moreat New American Funding
at New American Funding
Best for first-time home buyers

580

5%

Learn moreat New American Funding
at New American Funding
Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

4.5
/5
Best for mortgage rate transparency

620

3%

State Employees' Credit Union

State Employees' Credit Union: NMLS#430055

4.5
/5
Best for credit union lending

N/A

0%

loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

4.0
/5
Best for digital convenience

620

5%

CrossCountry Mortgage

CrossCountry Mortgage: NMLS#3029

3.5
/5
Best for digital convenience

620

3%

New American Funding
Learn moreat New American Funding
at New American Funding
New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

4.5
Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

5%

Why We Like ItGood for: First-time home buyers and other borrowers looking for a broad array of loan choices.
Pros
  • Offers a wide variety of purchase and refinance mortgages with an emphasis on helping underserved communities.
  • Its home equity line of credit can be used for an owner-occupied or second home.
  • Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
Cons
  • Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.
Read Full Review
Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want a wide range of choices — not only among mortgage products, but also in the channel they prefer, whether a branch, online or on the phone.
Pros
  • Offers a wide range of loan types and products, including FHA, VA and USDA.
  • Borrowers can apply and track loan status online.
  • Offers customized online rate quotes with monthly payment estimates, including mortgage insurance, when applicable.
Cons
  • Home equity loans are geographically limited.
  • Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
State Employees' Credit Union

State Employees' Credit Union: NMLS#430055

Min. credit score

N/A

Min. down payment

0%

Why We Like ItGood for: North Carolina government employees and other eligible borrowers interested in conventional loans with low down payment options.
Pros
  • No private mortgage insurance required, even with a down payment less than 20%.
  • 100% percent financing available.
  • Participates in mortgage credit certificate and down payment assistance programs.
Cons
  • Does not have government-backed loan options.
  • Membership eligibility is limited, and loans are available only for properties located in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want an easy online application and a variety of loan types to explore.
Pros
  • Has branches across the country for customers who prefer face-to-face service.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
  • Mortgage interest rates tend to be on the lower end, according to the latest federal data.
Cons
  • Mortgage rates aren't available online; you'll need to contact a loan officer.
  • Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
CrossCountry Mortgage

CrossCountry Mortgage: NMLS#3029

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want a variety of home loan options, including a home equity line of credit and government-backed renovation loan.
Pros
  • Offers a wide variety of mortgage loan types and products.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Doesn't display information online about rates and fees.
  • Mortgage origination fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
Fairway Independent Mortgage
Learn moreat Fairway Independent Mortgage
at Fairway Independent Mortgage
Fairway Independent Mortgage

Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want access to a wide variety of mortgages, including renovation loans and ITIN loans.
Pros
  • Offers a robust suite of loan products, including ITIN loans for borrowers without Social Security numbers, renovation loans, government-backed mortgages and loans for self-employed borrowers.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Mortgage rates for different types of loans aren't posted online.
  • Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Sebonic Financial

Sebonic Financial: NMLS#66247

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want a variety of loan products paired with a smooth digital process.
Pros
  • Convenient online application and loan process updates.
  • Offers a variety of mortgage options, including FHA, VA and USDA loans.
Cons
  • Mortgage interest rates aren't published online.
  • Doesn’t offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
  • Lender fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.

What is an ITIN?

An ITIN, or individual taxpayer identification number, is a number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to someone who isn't eligible to have a Social Security number but is required to file a federal tax return. Immigrants who are living and working here legally but aren't U.S. citizens are among those who may need ITINs. The IRS website has instructions on how to apply for an ITIN.

What are ITIN mortgages?

ITIN mortgages are home loans for people who don't have and aren't eligible to get Social Security numbers. A borrower applies for an ITIN mortgage by providing an individual taxpayer identification number and other documentation.

Where can I find ITIN loans?

Only select banks, credit unions and other lenders offer ITIN loans, so you may need to do more shopping around than an applicant would for a traditional mortgage.

Qualifying for an ITIN mortgage

With traditional mortgages, lenders use an applicant's Social Security number to track down the person's credit history from the credit reporting bureaus. Without a Social Security number, lenders must rely on other documentation, such as tax returns, bank statements and utility bills.

The documentation and credit requirements vary by lender, but generally you'll need to show proof of two years of employment and two years of tax returns and be prepared to make a higher down payment than for a traditional mortgage. The down payment requirement for an ITIN mortgage is typically 10% to 20%, and applicants may need to show they have a certain amount of cash reserves.

Last updated on February 2, 2023

Methodology

The star ratings on this page reflect each lender's overall star ratings. Read more about how we determine those ratings.

The lenders on this page are chosen using this methodology:

NerdWallet reviewed more than 50 mortgage lenders, including the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (measured among lenders with at least a 1% market share), lenders with significant online search volume, and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country.

For inclusion in this roundup, lenders must offer ITIN mortgage loans and achieve at least an overall 3.5-star rating from NerdWallet.

NerdWallet solicits information from reviewed lenders on a recurring basis throughout the year. All lender-provided information is verified through lender websites and interviews. We also used 2021 HMDA data for origination volume, origination fee, rate spread and share-of-product data.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Mortgage Lenders for ITIN Loans

  • New American Funding: Best for first-time home buyers
  • Flagstar: Best for mortgage rate transparency
  • State Employees' Credit Union: Best for credit union lending
  • loanDepot: Best for digital convenience
  • CrossCountry Mortgage: Best for digital convenience
  • Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for customer satisfaction
  • Sebonic Financial: Best for digital convenience
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