{"id":21198,"date":"2025-08-02T16:47:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T16:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/?p=21198"},"modified":"2026-07-22T16:09:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T16:09:09","slug":"guide-to-u-s-mortgages-for-u-s-expats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/guide-to-u-s-mortgages-for-u-s-expats\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to U.S. Mortgages for U.S. Expats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ve often been asked: can non-U.S. citizens get a mortgage in the U.S.? While we have in-depth guides on how citizens of other countries, not living in the U.S., can buy U.S. real estate as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/foreign-national-overseas\/\">foreign nationals<\/a>, this article concentrates specifically on&nbsp;<strong>US expat mortgage<\/strong>&nbsp;options, for U.S. citizens living and earning income abroad who want to buy or refinance property back home. If you&#8217;re specifically researching your situation as a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/us-citizen-overseas\/\">U.S. citizen living overseas<\/a>, that&#8217;s exactly who this guide is written for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re a U.S. expat residing outside of America, earning foreign income, with no W-2 or even limited U.S. credit, and you want to obtain a U.S. mortgage, we have good news: it&#8217;s absolutely possible with America Mortgages by your side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can U.S. Expats Obtain a Mortgage in the U.S.?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\">America Mortgages<\/a>, a U.S. expat can obtain a mortgage to buy or refinance property in the U.S., and we make the process just as straightforward as if you walked into your local bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a U.S. expat, you hold either a U.S. passport or a green card. However, earning your income abroad in a foreign currency is often a deal breaker for most U.S. banks, even if you&#8217;ve banked with them for years. Traditional lenders are built around domestic underwriting: W-2s, U.S. pay stubs, and U.S.-based credit histories, none of which fit how most expats actually earn and live. With America Mortgages, you can get a mortgage for a variety of real estate purposes: a second home, a holiday home, or a pure investment property (which must be rented and not personally occupied by the mortgagee).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Traditional Banks Often Decline U.S. Expats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s a common misconception that being declined by a traditional bank means you don&#8217;t qualify for U.S. financing. More often, it means your income simply doesn&#8217;t fit that bank&#8217;s standard format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Common friction points include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Foreign currency income<\/strong>&nbsp;that doesn&#8217;t convert cleanly into a standard U.S. underwriting file<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited or no U.S. credit history<\/strong>, even for expats who lived and banked in the U.S. before moving abroad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Non-standard employment documentation<\/strong>, especially for self-employed expats or those working for foreign companies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ongoing U.S. tax filing obligations<\/strong>, since U.S. citizens must file U.S. tax returns regardless of where they live, which lenders often rely on heavily<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specialized lenders like America Mortgages are built specifically to underwrite around these realities, rather than forcing your file into a domestic mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Is Eligible for a US Expat Mortgage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting a US expat mortgage is surprisingly flexible, with options to suit a range of financial situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First and most importantly, U.S. expats should have a FICO score of at least 640. You&#8217;ll need to provide two years of U.S. tax returns, your most recent pay statements, and two months of bank statements, just as you would for a conventional mortgage loan, though no W-2 is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re buying as a pure investment property, you can qualify without any personal income at all, no W-2 or tax returns needed. You can skip the personal income route altogether and qualify based on the property&#8217;s rental income instead, through a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/guide-to-dscr-loans\/\">DSCR loan<\/a>. If you&#8217;re considering this route, our guide on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/how-to-calculate-dscr-ratio\/\">how to calculate your DSCR ratio<\/a>&nbsp;walks through exactly how lenders evaluate the property&#8217;s income against the loan payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are also high-net-worth loan programs that don&#8217;t require assets under management (AUM), making approval easier for wealthier individuals. Self-employed borrowers have access to special loan programs as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Loan Options for U.S. Expats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on your income structure and goals, several loan paths are available:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Full-documentation loans<\/strong>: using your foreign income, tax returns, and pay statements, best for expats who want to qualify based on personal income.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>DSCR loans<\/strong>: qualify based on the investment property&#8217;s rental income alone, no personal income documentation required. Our guide on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/pros-and-cons-of-dscr-loans\/\">pros and cons of DSCR loans<\/a>&nbsp;can help you decide if this structure fits your situation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Asset-based loans<\/strong>: qualify using liquid assets and reserves rather than income, useful for expats with substantial savings or investments but non-traditional income documentation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High-net-worth programs<\/strong>: no AUM requirement, designed for wealthier expats who don&#8217;t want to move assets to qualify.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Portfolio loans<\/strong>: for expats scaling beyond a single property, consolidating multiple U.S. investment properties into a single loan. See our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/portfolio-loans-case-study\/\">portfolio loan case study<\/a>&nbsp;for a real example of how this works in practice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Documents Needed to Apply for a US Expat Mortgage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Completed loan application<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valid U.S. passport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bank statements or financials showing your down payment (purchase only)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Credit report from your home country or country of residence (U.S. credit not required)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If providing personal income: an income letter or tax returns (no-income loans are also available)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The minimum loan amount is $150,000, with up to 80% LTV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tax Considerations for U.S. Expats Buying Property<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a U.S. citizen, your tax filing obligations don&#8217;t stop when you move abroad. You&#8217;re still required to file U.S. tax returns regardless of where you live, and this documentation plays a direct role in mortgage underwriting for full-documentation loan programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Property ownership adds another layer of tax planning, from how you title the property to how rental income and eventual resale are taxed. Many expats work with a specialist who understands both sides of their financial life; our guide to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/best-expat-accountants-for-americans-living-abroad-2026-guide\/\">best expat accountants for Americans living abroad<\/a>&nbsp;is a good starting point if you don&#8217;t already have one. If you&#8217;re considering purchasing through an entity rather than personally, our guide on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/llc-and-tax-strategies-for-u-s-real-estate-investors\/\">LLC and tax strategies for U.S. real estate investors<\/a>&nbsp;covers the tradeoffs in more depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can U.S. Expats Obtain a U.S. Mortgage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By working with America Mortgages, you can access a range of <strong>US expat mortgage<\/strong> options suited to your situation, along with expert guidance and support throughout the process. Foreign nationals can access up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fnba.com\/mortgage\/flexfirst-heloc\/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23029068707&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD_wtk5kw2sejG6ljJ2svNPGp4u9b&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw1IHTBhAaEiwA4AYNFnF-eqGaxbJD1bvcOS35B65HmwJAJ9I11x-FmFlSAZaQybM6vzTCVhoCgdwQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">75% financing<\/a>, and U.S. expats can access up to 80% financing, in all 50 states. This helps you make informed decisions about your <strong>US expat mortgage<\/strong> options, increases your chances of approval, and supports your real estate investment goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the process can be completed remotely, from application through closing, so being physically outside the U.S. doesn&#8217;t slow things down. To understand what happens once you submit your documentation, see our guide on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/what-mortgage-pre-approval-really-means\/\">what mortgage pre-approval really means<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">America Mortgages is a trusted provider of <strong>US expat mortgage<\/strong> solutions for foreign nationals and U.S. expats worldwide. Our team understands global markets and offers financing options that are clear, competitive, and fast to close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speak With a U.S. Mortgage Specialist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/contact\/\">Contact us<\/a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:hello@americamortgages.com\">hello@americamortgages.com<\/a>, or call our U.S. Loan Experts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at <a href=\"tel: +1 (845) 583-0830\">+1 (845) 583-0830<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Need help getting started? Use our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/home-mortgage-for-foreign-national-form\/\">24\/7 online booking tool<\/a>&nbsp;to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a licensed U.S. mortgage advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784099808307\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can U.S. expats get a mortgage in the U.S.?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. Even if you&#8217;re living abroad with foreign income or no W-2 forms, America Mortgages makes it possible for U.S. expats to buy or refinance U.S. property.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784099837199\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What credit score do U.S. expats need?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>You should have a FICO score of at least 640 to qualify for a US expat mortgage under full-documentation programs.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784099851233\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Which documents are needed to apply?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll need a completed loan application, a valid U.S. passport, bank statements showing your down payment, and a credit report from your country of residence. U.S. income documentation is optional if qualifying through a DSCR or asset-based program.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784099868367\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the minimum loan amount and how much can you borrow?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The minimum loan is $150,000, and U.S. expats can borrow up to 80% of the property&#8217;s value (80% LTV) across all 50 states.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784099880280\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Are there special programs for self-employed or high-net-worth expats?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. There are tailored loan options for high-net-worth individuals (with no assets-under-management requirement) and for self-employed borrowers.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784099909423\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Do U.S. expats still need to file U.S. taxes to qualify for a mortgage?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. U.S. citizens are required to file U.S. tax returns regardless of where they live, and two years of tax returns are typically required for full-documentation loan programs.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784099919958\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can U.S. expats qualify for a mortgage without providing personal income?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. Investment property purchases can qualify through a DSCR loan, which is based on the property&#8217;s rental income rather than personal income, tax returns, or a W-2.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;ve often been asked: can non-U.S. citizens get a mortgage in the U.S.? While we have in-depth guides on how citizens of other countries, not living in the U.S., can buy U.S. real estate as&nbsp;foreign nationals, this article concentrates specifically on&nbsp;US expat mortgage&nbsp;options, for U.S. citizens living and earning income abroad who want to buy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":21376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/template-single-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"qubely_global_settings":"","qubely_interactions":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[31,14,13],"tags":[],"am_country":[],"am_audience":[],"am_format":[],"class_list":["post-21198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-think-pieces","category-foreign-nationals","category-u-s-expats"],"acf":[],"qubely_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60.jpg",1200,628,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60.jpg",1200,628,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60-540x320.jpg",540,320,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60-300x157.jpg",300,157,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60-768x402.jpg",580,304,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60-1024x536.jpg",580,304,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60.jpg",1200,628,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60.jpg",1200,628,false],"qubely_landscape":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60.jpg",1200,628,false],"qubely_portrait":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60-540x320.jpg",540,320,true],"qubely_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60-140x100.jpg",140,100,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60.jpg",1200,628,false],"twentytwenty-fullscreen":["https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pictures-60.jpg",1200,628,false]},"qubely_author":{"display_name":"America Mortgages","author_link":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/author\/america-mortgages\/"},"qubely_comment":0,"qubely_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/think-pieces\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Think Pieces<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/foreign-nationals\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Foreign Nationals<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/u-s-expats\/\" rel=\"category tag\">U.S. Expats<\/a>","qubely_excerpt":"We&#8217;ve often been asked: can non-U.S. citizens get a mortgage in the U.S.? While we have in-depth guides on how citizens of other countries, not living in the U.S., can buy U.S. real estate as&nbsp;foreign nationals, this article concentrates specifically on&nbsp;US expat mortgage&nbsp;options, for U.S. citizens living and earning income abroad who want to buy&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21198"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25156,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21198\/revisions\/25156"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21198"},{"taxonomy":"am_country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/am_country?post=21198"},{"taxonomy":"am_audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/am_audience?post=21198"},{"taxonomy":"am_format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.americamortgages.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/am_format?post=21198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}