Owning property in Boca Raton while your job, family and bank sit in another country takes planning on both sides of the border. A foreign national loan is built for that situation, typically for a second home or an investment property rather than a primary residence. Here is how lenders weigh foreign income and credit, why a U.S. bank account matters and how buyers close on Florida property from abroad.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about foreign national mortgages in Boca Raton. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Second homes and seasonal housing around Boca Raton
About 4,679 homes in Boca Raton are held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use, 9.5% of the housing stock. Lenders financed 988 second homes in Palm Beach County in 2024. 20.4% of Boca Raton residents were born outside the U.S.
Second home or rental: deciding how you will use the property
Buyers from abroad often weigh a few practical points before choosing a property. Who will look after the home while you are overseas? Will a property manager handle rentals, repairs and bills? How will you pay the property taxes, insurance and association dues from another country?
Your answers shape the loan as well as your budget. A lender reviewing an investment purchase may look at the expected rent, while a second-home file leans on your own income and assets. Loans that qualify a rental on its rent alone are a separate category with rules of their own. Talk through both paths with a loan officer, and ask how each one treats your foreign income and the reserves you plan to keep.
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
- Takes a few minutes
- Reviewed by a licensed loan officer
- No obligation to proceed
Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 508-8976. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
How lenders read foreign income, credit and savings
Without U.S. pay stubs or tax returns, a lender builds your income picture from documents issued at home. Common examples are an employer letter stating your position and pay, an accountant's statement for business owners and recent bank statements showing deposits. Documents not written in English usually need a certified translation.
Income earned in another currency is converted to U.S. dollars, and lenders differ on which exchange rate source they use and how they handle swings in value. Ask that question early, because a weaker currency at the time of underwriting can change your qualifying figure. Keep your records consistent, so that the pay shown on the employer letter matches the deposits on your statements.
Who this tends to fit
- You have banking relationships at home that can vouch for your credit
- Your home, job and bank accounts are outside the United States
- You are buying a condo or house mainly to rent out
- You want financing that does not depend on a Social Security number
- You can hold savings in a U.S. account before and after closing
Local offices and Florida rules to know
- Deed and mortgage recording: Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County - Recording. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
- Property assessment: Palm Beach County Property Appraiser - Exemption Services. Homeowners can apply for homestead exemption by e-filing on the Property Appraiser's website, in person at one of its service centers, or by printing the online application and mailing it in.
Florida condo rules: Florida requires milestone structural inspections for older condominium and cooperative buildings of three or more stories, and condo associations must complete a structural integrity reserve study (SIRS) covering items like roofs, structure, plumbing, electrical and waterproofing and report it to the state. Buyers and lenders often ask for these inspection and reserve study results because they can signal upcoming repairs or special assessments. Source: Florida DBPR, Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes.
Closing from abroad
You do not always have to be in the room to close on a home in Boca Raton. Some buyers plan a trip and sign in person. Others sign before a notary abroad or at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and some use a power of attorney so a trusted person can sign for them. Each route has its own requirements.
Lenders, title companies and closing agents each have rules about which methods they accept, and a power of attorney often needs advance review. Ask the loan officer and the closing agent how they handle signers outside the country as soon as you are under contract. Overseas mail and courier times can add days, so build that time into your schedule.
Before you call
- A U.S. bank account, or an appointment to open one
- A plan for how you will use the property and who will manage it
- A bank reference letter or home-country credit report
- A decision on how you will sign at closing if you cannot attend
- Recent foreign bank statements with certified translations if needed
Questions Boca Raton borrowers ask about foreign national mortgages
Who can answer my visa and tax questions about owning U.S. property?
Not your loan officer. A lender can explain programs and documents, but owning or renting U.S. property can raise visa, tax and legal questions that call for specialists. For questions about visas or how long you can stay, consult an immigration attorney. For U.S. or home-country tax questions, talk to a tax professional.
Will I need a property manager?
A lender may not require one, but owners who live abroad often hire a manager to handle tenants, repairs and bills. If the home will be rented, the manager's agreement and expected rent may come up during underwriting. Ask how the lender treats management costs, and plan for them in the budget you set for owning the home.
Can I rent the home out when I am not using it?
That depends on how the property is classified on your loan. A second home is meant mainly for your own use, while an investment property is bought to rent. Tell the lender your plans before you apply, and check association rules and local rental regulations. How rental income is taxed is a separate matter, so talk to a tax professional.
What exchange rate does the lender use for my income?
Lenders convert foreign income and assets to U.S. dollars, but they differ on the rate source they use and the date they apply it. A move in your currency between application and closing can change the figures. Ask each lender how it handles conversion, and keep some cushion in your budget for currency swings.
Get answers about foreign national mortgages for a home in or around Boca Raton. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for Boca Raton borrowers
Bank statement loans in Boca RatonNon-QM lenders in Boca RatonSelf-employed in Boca Raton1099 loans in Boca RatonP&L loans in Boca RatonAsset depletion in Boca RatonNo-doc / stated income in Boca RatonNew self-employed in Boca RatonITIN loans in Boca RatonNon-warrantable condo in Boca RatonBank statement HELOC in Boca RatonInterest-only in Boca RatonAfter bankruptcy in Boca RatonBad credit in Boca RatonSelf-employed refinance in Boca RatonNon-QM jumbo in Boca Raton
Foreign National Mortgages near Boca Raton
- Foreign National Mortgages in Deerfield Beach, FL (5 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Delray Beach, FL (6 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Lighthouse Point, FL (7 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Coconut Creek, FL (8 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Pompano Beach, FL (9 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Parkland, FL (10 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Boynton Beach, FL (11 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Margate, FL (11 mi)
Related guides
- Foreign National Mortgages: Guidelines, Documents and Property Use
- What Is a Non-Warrantable Condo, and How Can You Find Out Before You Offer?
- How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
Foreign National Mortgages across Florida · Foreign National Mortgages guide · Florida overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25004, B25001 and B05002
- 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for Palm Beach County (second-home occupancy)