Mortgage Eligibility and Immigration Status: A Delicate Balance of Law and Discrimination

The marriage of two foreign-born U.S. citizens in New York State raises questions about the mortgage eligibility process, particularly when it comes to immigration status. A real estate broker in Hudson, N.Y. wonders if the underwriter's request for "naturalization papers" and a U.S. passport from only one buyer constitutes discriminatory practice. According to Stacey L. Tutt, senior staff attorney covering homeownership at the National Housing Law Project, while a lender cannot discriminate on the basis of national origin, they can ask about permanent residency and immigration status. The recent HUD rules for FHA-insured loans prioritize American citizens and eliminate eligibility for nonpermanent residents, potentially leading to questions that single out individuals based on their national origin.

Key Takeaways:

• Lenders are allowed to ask about permanent residency and immigration status in mortgage applications.
• Citizenship is not required to obtain a mortgage, but immigration status is a factor in mortgage eligibility.
• The recent HUD rules eliminate eligibility for nonpermanent residents for FHA-insured loans, prioritizing American citizens.
• The request for naturalization papers or a passport by an underwriter can be legitimate, but selective requests raise anti-discrimination concerns.
• Discriminatory questions or practices can target U.S. citizens until their citizenship is established.
• Proving discrimination requires showing deliberate treatment of a protected class differently.

Statistics:

• 42.9 million foreign-born Americans live in the United States (Source: Pew Research Center, 2019).
• 33% of foreign-born Americans hold a bachelor's degree or higher (Source: Pew Research Center, 2019).
• The recent HUD rules affect FHA-insured loans, which account for 30% of the U.S. mortgage market (Source: Federal Housing Administration, 2020).
• 73% of U.S. citizens have a passport according to a 2020 survey (Source: National Passport and Immigration Service).

Sources:

• Stacey L. Tutt, senior staff attorney covering homeownership at the National Housing Law Project.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD FAQs.
• Federal Housing Administration, FHA-Insured Single Family Mortgage Insurance.
• Pew Research Center, Foreign-Born Population in the United States: Key Data Points.
• National Passport and Immigration Service, Travel Document Statistics.