H-1B & NRI Mortgage Guide: How Visa Holders and NRIs Can Buy or Invest in a U.S. Home

If you're on an H-1B, L-1, O-1, or another work visa — or you're an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) living abroad and looking to invest in U.S. real estate — you can absolutely get a mortgage in the United States. The rules are different from what a U.S. citizen faces, and they've shifted recently, so here's where things actually stand in 2026.

Yes, Visa Holders Can Get a Conventional Mortgage

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both allow lawful non-permanent residents — including H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-1/E-2, and TN visa holders — to qualify for conventional mortgages under essentially the same terms available to U.S. citizens. You are not automatically required to have a green card, and you don't need 20% down or a decade of U.S. residency history to qualify.

What lenders typically want to see:

• A valid, current visa or Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
• A U.S. credit score, generally 620 or higher (740+ unlocks the best pricing)
• Two years of employment history, which can often include time with the same employer abroad
• A valid Social Security Number
• Standard income documentation: pay stubs, W-2s, and tax returns

Conventional loans are available with down payments as low as 3-5% for well-qualified borrowers, which is a significant advantage over foreign-national programs that often require 25%+ down.

What Changed: FHA Loans Are No Longer an Option for Most Visa Holders

This is the single most important update for 2026: as of a HUD rule change effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after May 25, 2025, FHA-insured loans are no longer available to most non-permanent resident borrowers, including the majority of H-1B holders. If you were counting on an FHA loan for its lower down payment, that path is now closed for most visa holders — but conventional financing remains fully available, and it's usually the better long-term option for W-2 visa holders with solid credit anyway.

The Visa Timeline Question Lenders Actually Care About

Underwriters look closely at how much time is left on your visa status. As a general rule:

• Lenders want to see at least one to two years remaining on your visa at the time of closing
• If your visa is close to expiring, getting your extension filed (or your I-140 approved, if you're on the green card path) before you apply strengthens your file considerably
• An approved I-140 petition is a meaningful positive signal to underwriters — it shows a documented path toward permanent residency, which reduces the lender's risk calculation

None of this means you need a green card to qualify. It means the stronger and more documented your status, the smoother your approval.

What If You're an NRI Living Abroad, Not in the U.S.?

This is a different scenario, and it's where DSCR loans come in. If you're an NRI living in India (or anywhere outside the U.S.) and want to buy a U.S. rental property as an investment rather than a place to live, you generally don't qualify for a conventional owner-occupant mortgage — but you also don't need to. A DSCR loan qualifies the property's rental income, not your personal U.S. income or credit history, which sidesteps the biggest obstacle foreign-based investors face: no U.S. tax returns or W-2s to show.

For NRI investors, that typically means:

• No U.S. income documentation required — the property's projected rent is what matters
• Financing available for single-family rentals, condos, and small multifamily (2-8 units)
• The ability to close in an LLC, which many NRI investors prefer for liability and tax structuring
• Foreign nationals are eligible on many DSCR programs, though down payment requirements are typically higher (25-30%+) than for a domestic W-2 visa holder buying a primary residence

If you're an NRI investor, run your numbers through our DSCR calculator to see where a specific property lands before you go further.

Which Path Fits You?

• Living and working in the U.S. on a visa, buying a home to live in: Conventional loan, standard owner-occupant qualification, no FHA.
• Living abroad, investing in U.S. rental property: DSCR loan, qualifies on the property's rental income rather than personal income.
• Somewhere in between (recently arrived, thin U.S. credit file, complex income): talk to us directly — these are exactly the files where a broker who shops multiple lenders makes the biggest difference, since guidelines vary meaningfully by lender on visa type, credit history requirements, and reserves. And if a bank has turned you down, a Non-QM program may still fit your file.

A Note on Immigration Status

Nothing here is immigration advice, and buying a home does not affect your visa status, your green card timeline, or your employer's sponsorship of your case. If you have questions about your immigration status specifically, that's a conversation for an immigration attorney — we're happy to talk mortgages once you're ready.

Get Started

Whether you're buying your first home on an H-1B in Naperville, Chicago, Atlanta, or Austin, or investing in a rental property as an NRI from abroad, we've worked with visa holders and international investors across our licensed states (FL, GA, IL, TX) and DSCR borrowers nationwide. Get pre-qualified or call 1-866-666-2378 to talk through your specific situation.

For the full list of visas we work with, the documents we ask for, and how we review legal presence and work authorization, see our mortgages for H-1B and other visa holders page.

Common questions

Can H-1B visa holders get a mortgage in the US?

Yes. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allow lawful non-permanent residents - including H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-1/E-2, and TN visa holders - to qualify for conventional mortgages under essentially the same terms as U.S. citizens. You don't need a green card, 20% down, or a decade of U.S. residency to qualify.

Are FHA loans available to H-1B holders in 2026?

No, not for most H-1B holders. A HUD rule change effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after May 25, 2025 removed FHA eligibility for most non-permanent resident borrowers. Conventional financing is still fully available and is usually the better long-term option for W-2 visa holders with solid credit.

Can NRIs living abroad get a US mortgage?

Yes, through DSCR loans. NRIs living outside the U.S. generally can't qualify for a conventional owner-occupant mortgage, but they can finance U.S. rental property with a DSCR loan that qualifies on the property's rental income rather than personal U.S. income or tax returns. Down payments typically start at 25-30% and closing in an LLC is allowed.

Do I need a green card to buy a house on a work visa?

No. A green card is not required. Lenders do want to see stable status - typically at least 1-2 years remaining on your visa at closing - and an approved I-140 petition is a strong positive signal, but conventional loans are available to work visa holders without permanent residency.