Bying house while I-485 pending

[ValerieDuf]

Hello,

I am currently under J-1 (Post Doc fellow - 5 years ending in October 19) and my spouse works under his J-2. We have our I-140 approved and are in the final months hopefully of our I-485.
We would love to buy a house but the banks are not keen on landing us money while we don't technically have our GC in hands (it is the only word they know about immigration).
would anybody be able to share their experience with us? Is there any possibility in buying without H-1b or GC in hands?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Magelans]

You should be able to buy a property, right?

[vicwoods]

I know you can get a loan from a bank if you have I-400 (or better) and income, so I think the bank should give you I-485. All in all that sounds good, I don't know why banks behave that way. I've seen links to sites for getting I-485, but I'm not sure how they work in practice. It's easier to build your own house https://www.boutiquehomeplans.com/house-building-blog. For example, if I want to buy a $2 million house: A mortgage loan with an interest rate set at 5%, which would be about $120,000 a year, or about $800,000 over 10 years

[debdeeps]

I've wanted to buy a house for a while, but I never imagined it would be this hard. My husband and I both work full-time, leaving us with little time to dedicate to the search, and our budget isn't that large. We definitely need some help, but I'm worried that hiring someone might be too expensive and add to our financial stress.

[glideglo]

When I moved three years ago, I was in a similar situation. Fortunately, a great real estate agent stepped in and made everything so much easier. Their expertise really took the weight off my shoulders, and I couldn't have done it without them.

Surprisingly, hiring the agent wasn't as expensive as I initially thought. In fact, they ended up finding us the perfect house that checked all our boxes and was within our budget. They even managed to find the cheapest option on the market that met all our criteria. My advice would be to look for a real estate agent who understands your needs and budget constraints they can save you time, stress, and potentially even money. If you're worried about the cost, I highly recommend checking out The Property Buying Company; they can guide you through the process.

[AndreyDuplanti]

Hello,

I am currently under J-1 (Post Doc fellow - 5 years ending in October 19) and my spouse works under his J-2. We have our I-140 approved and are in the final months hopefully of our I-485.
We would love to buy a house Iron fence in Los Angeles but the banks are not keen on landing us money while we don't technically have our GC in hands (it is the only word they know about immigration).
would anybody be able to share their experience with us? Is there any possibility in buying without H-1b or GC in hands?
Iron fence in Los Angeles globusgates.com/products/fences/iron-fence
Thanks a lot for your help!

Hi there! I’ve been through a similar process, so I totally understand your frustration. While it can be challenging to get a mortgage without a Green Card, it’s not impossible. Some lenders are more flexible and may offer loans to people with valid work visas like the J-1 or even pending I-485 cases. You might need to look into smaller, local banks or credit unions, as they sometimes have different policies from the big banks

[RichardGravener]

It is possible to buy a house without an H-1B or Green Card, but it can be challenging. Some lenders specialize in working with individuals on temporary visas like J-1 or J-2, and they may be more flexible with your immigration status. You can improve your chances by providing documentation of your I-140 approval and the status of your I-485. Offering a large down payment (20-25%) or having a U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-sign can also help. A good credit score and stable income are crucial factors in getting approved. You can also explore resources for additional guidance on the home-buying process for individuals with temporary visa statuses.