Non-resident buyers look at The Hammocks for seasonal stays, family visits and rental income. Financing that purchase usually means working with a non-QM lender that accepts documents from your home country, converts your income to U.S. dollars and checks your credit through references rather than a U.S. bureau file. Knowing the process before you sign a contract in Florida can keep paperwork from overseas from delaying your closing.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about foreign national mortgages in The Hammocks. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Second homes and seasonal housing around The Hammocks
Seasonal and occasional-use homes make up 0.1% of housing in The Hammocks (28 units). Lenders financed 487 second homes in Miami-Dade County in 2024. 57.1% of The Hammocks residents were born outside the U.S.
Second home or rental: deciding how you will use the property
The first question a lender will ask is how you plan to use the home. A second home is a place you will stay in part of the time and keep available for yourself. An investment property is one you buy mainly to rent out. That choice affects which programs fit, how the loan is priced and which documents the lender wants.
Be honest about your plans on the application, because the occupancy you declare is a statement the lender relies on. If you expect to rent the home while you are away, say so early. Then check the association rules and any local rental regulations before you sign a contract, since some buildings and communities limit short stays.
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
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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
Since most foreign buyers have no U.S. credit file, lenders look for other evidence that you repay what you borrow. A reference letter from your bank describing your accounts and history is a common starting point. A credit report from your home country, where one exists, or letters from creditors you pay may also be accepted.
Your savings matter just as much. Lenders want to see the source of your down payment and closing funds and may ask for reserves held after closing. They often prefer that money to sit in an account for a period before closing rather than arrive in one large transfer. Ask how long that period is and which accounts count before you move any funds.
Who this tends to fit
- You want a vacation or seasonal home you will use part of the time
- Your income is paid in a foreign currency
- Your home, job and bank accounts are outside the United States
- You want financing that does not depend on a Social Security number
- You expect to sign closing documents from another country
Local offices and Florida rules to know
- Deed and mortgage recording: Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, County Recorder's Office. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
- Property assessment: Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser. The Property Appraiser handles the homestead exemption for permanent owners of a primary residence and offers an online application for homestead exemption and additional tax benefits.
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
Most lenders ask foreign national borrowers to hold a U.S. bank account. It gives the lender a domestic account for monthly payments and gives you a clear place to gather closing funds. Opening one can take time when you live abroad, so begin early.
Plan your international wires with care. Transfers can take several business days, receiving banks may hold large incoming amounts for review and the exchange rate on the day you send changes what arrives. Keep every confirmation, since the lender will trace the money from your foreign account to closing. Criminals target real estate wires, so confirm instructions by calling a number you already trust, not one sent by email.
Before you call
- Proof of your foreign address
- An employer letter or accountant's statement confirming your income
- A plan for how you will use the property and who will manage it
- A decision on how you will sign at closing if you cannot attend
- A bank reference letter or home-country credit report
Questions The Hammocks borrowers ask about foreign national mortgages
Do my foreign documents need to be translated?
Documents that are not in English usually need a translation, and many programs require a certified translator. Some lenders also ask for documents to be authenticated. Requirements vary, so ask for the lender's list before you order translations. Getting this done early keeps paperwork from overseas from becoming the last item holding up your closing.
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.
Do I have to travel to the United States to close?
Not always. Some buyers sign before a notary abroad or at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and some use a power of attorney so another person can sign. Lenders and title companies each set their own rules on which methods they accept, so ask both early and allow extra time for documents to travel by courier.
How long should my funds be in a U.S. account before closing?
Each program sets its own rule. Many lenders want the down payment, closing funds and reserves to be in an account for a period before closing, with a clear record of where the money came from. Ask the loan officer for the requirement at the start so you can schedule your wires around it.
Get answers about foreign national mortgages for a home in or around The Hammocks. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for The Hammocks borrowers
Bank statement loans in The HammocksNon-QM lenders in The HammocksSelf-employed in The Hammocks1099 loans in The HammocksP&L loans in The HammocksAsset depletion in The HammocksNo-doc / stated income in The HammocksNew self-employed in The HammocksITIN loans in The HammocksNon-warrantable condo in The HammocksBank statement HELOC in The HammocksInterest-only in The HammocksAfter bankruptcy in The HammocksBad credit in The HammocksSelf-employed refinance in The HammocksNon-QM jumbo in The Hammocks
Foreign National Mortgages near The Hammocks
- Foreign National Mortgages in Kendall West, FL (3 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Country Walk, FL (3 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in The Crossings, FL (3 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Three Lakes, FL (4 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Kendale Lakes, FL (4 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Richmond West, FL (4 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Richmond Heights, FL (5 mi)
- Foreign National Mortgages in Kendall, FL (6 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 Miami-Dade County (second-home occupancy)