Let’s say that you have been living in California for several years in various rental properties. Now, you are now interested in buying a home. There is just one catch: You are not a United States citizen. You may be wondering whether purchasing real estate as a non-U.S. citizen is even possible.

Fortunately, you do not need to be a U.S. citizen to buy a home. However, your ability to acquire a mortgage will heavily depend on your immigration status and records of your financial history.

Acquiring a mortgage as a non-U.S. citizen

One of the biggest hurdles that non-U.S. citizens will encounter when purchasing a home is securing a mortgage. The type of loan for which you are eligible will depend largely on your immigration status. Another major issue that you may face is providing adequate documentation of your financial history.

· Permanent residents who have a green card or temporary residents who have a work visa are eligible for the same loans as American citizens. However, the loan application process may take a bit longer, as you will have to provide proof of your residency. Most applicants must also have at least two years of credit history, employment history and proof of income. An attorney can often help you with these financing and documentation issues.

· If you do not have the legal status to work in the U.S., you may still purchase a home, but you will not be eligible for most loans. You may qualify for foreign loans if you can demonstrate that you receive your income for another country. However, these loans must be used for investment properties, and not permanent residences. If you are interested in settling in the U.S., you may wish to work with an immigration attorney to change your immigration status.

If you are not a U.S. citizen but you are interested in settling in California, contact an immigration attorney at Yew Immigration Law Group. We can help you with immigration-related challenges that you may encounter as you purchase your home. With an immigration attorney on your side, your biggest challenge may simply be finding a home in the Silicon Valley real estate market.