Can You Buy a Home in Maryland With an ITIN? ITIN Loans, Documents, Programs and Scams to Avoid (2026)

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a 9-digit number the IRS issues to people who need a U.S. taxpayer number for federal tax purposes but are not eligible for a Social Security number. The IRS is clear that an ITIN does not authorize work, does not change immigration status and does not make you eligible for Social Security benefits. It is a tax number.

An ITIN mortgage is a loan from a private lender for borrowers who file taxes with an ITIN instead of an SSN. These are usually portfolio or non-QM loans, which means the lender keeps them or sells them privately instead of following the standard Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or FHA rules. Because of that, every lender sets its own down payment, credit, income and rate rules, and the differences between lenders can be large.

Each lender is different, so treat this as a list of what to expect and ask about, not a promise of what any lender will accept.

• A larger down payment than many standard loans. Ask each lender for its minimum and whether gifts are allowed.
• A rate and fees that are often higher than a standard loan. Compare the full Loan Estimate, not only the rate.
• A history of filing U.S. tax returns with your ITIN. Ask how many years each lender wants to see.
• Steady income you can document, whether from a job or self-employment.
• Credit history. Some lenders accept nontraditional credit, such as a record of on-time rent, utility and phone payments.
• Cash reserves left over after closing, which some lenders require.
• The home is usually your primary residence. Ask whether the lender also lends on second homes or rentals.

• Your ITIN letter from the IRS (CP565 notice) and a current, unexpired ITIN. The IRS explains how to renew an ITIN that expired.
• Federal tax returns filed with your ITIN, and any W-2s or 1099s.
• Pay stubs, or for self-employed buyers, business records and bank statements.
• Bank statements showing your down payment and closing funds, with explanations for large deposits.
• A valid government-issued photo ID. Ask the lender and the title company which IDs they accept, because both must be able to verify who you are at settlement.
• Rent payment history, such as canceled checks or a letter from your landlord, if you are using nontraditional credit.

This is common, and there is more than one way to structure it. Which option fits depends on income, credit and the lender, so ask lenders to show you the numbers for each:

• The spouse with an SSN applies alone, on a standard loan or with the Maryland Mortgage Program, if that spouse's income and credit qualify by themselves. Ask the lender how the other spouse can be added to the title.
• Both spouses apply together on an ITIN loan, so both incomes count. The terms follow the ITIN lender's rules.
• If you file taxes jointly, the IRS allows a spouse with an ITIN to file a joint return with a spouse who is a U.S. citizen or resident alien. Ask your tax preparer how your filing affects the income a lender can count.
• Title, ownership and what happens if one of you dies are legal questions. Talk to a Maryland attorney about how to hold title.

Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP): every borrower needs a valid Social Security number, and MMP states that U.S. citizenship is not required. Borrowers also must live in the home and meet income, price and credit rules. County down payment programs that pair with an MMP first mortgage, such as Pathway to Purchase in Prince George's County, follow the MMP borrower rules, so they are generally not available on an ITIN loan.

FHA: for FHA case numbers assigned on or after May 25, 2025, FHA loans are limited to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and citizens of certain Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations: Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. HUD also states that a Social Security card alone is not enough to prove immigration status for FHA.

DC programs: the DC DHCD and DCHFA eligibility pages we reviewed for HPAP, DC Open Doors and DC4ME list income, credit score, first-time buyer and primary residence rules, and do not state an SSN or citizenship rule on those pages. These programs are paired with a first mortgage (conventional, FHA or VA) that has its own residency rules, so ask the program administrator or a participating lender before you count on DC assistance with an ITIN loan.

Rules change. A participating lender confirms eligibility for your situation.

Our team does not ask about immigration status. We work with every buyer the same way: we help you understand the market, find homes, write offers and get to settlement. Your lender, not your agent, reviews identification and income documents. Federal fair housing and fair lending laws prohibit discrimination based on national origin, race and other protected characteristics. Lenders are allowed to consider residency status as part of creditworthiness, and if you believe a lender treated you unfairly, the CFPB explains how to file a complaint.

• Emailed or texted wiring instructions. The CFPB warns that scammers pose as the agent, title company or lender and send fake wiring instructions before closing. Call the title company at a phone number you already know, never one from the email, to confirm before you wire anything.
• Pressure to pay by wire, gift card, payment app or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met. The FTC warns that once you wire money, you usually cannot get it back.
• A notario or consultant offering legal or immigration help. The FTC explains that a notario in the U.S. is not a licensed attorney and cannot give legal advice.
• Anyone who charges to file an ITIN application and promises a special result. You can apply for an ITIN directly with the IRS using Form W-7.
• Anyone who tells you to put false information on a loan application or sign blank forms. Never sign a document you do not understand.
• Lenders who will not give you a written Loan Estimate. Every lender should give you one so you can compare.

• Gather your recent tax returns filed with your ITIN, recent pay stubs or business records, and bank statements.
• Talk to at least two ITIN lenders and ask each for a written Loan Estimate.
• If someone in your household has an SSN, ask an MMP-approved lender whether that person could qualify alone.
• Meet with a HUD-approved housing counselor, many of whom offer help in Spanish.
• Set a budget that includes the down payment, closing costs and Maryland deed taxes for your county.
• Talk with our team about neighborhoods, prices and timing. We can work with you in English or Spanish.

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Confirm loan options with a lender, tax questions with a CPA, and title and legal questions with a Maryland attorney.