Tkd67

Hi, all..
Just wanted to hear of anyone's experiences of buying a house before the visa process is even finished.
Is it to risky? I've just learned you need a Ssn but due to not having one you have to apply for a tax number, has anyone done this and or just put your husband or wife's name on the deeds and changed it on a later date...
Anyone see problems with this or risks, or can a contract be made between both parties that's law binding . . If anything happens...... Any help would be appreciated...

Noorah101

Personally, I think it's a bad idea. What if you don't get the visa? Or if you get put into AP for ages? Then you have a house in the USA that you can't occupy yet. Well, the USC can, obviously...

The USC should have a SSN, but if they haven't lived or worked in the USA for a long time, credit history will be a problem. Are you thinking of paying all cash?

Rene

Tkd67

Hi rene,
Yes was going to pay cash, I would be fronting the majority of it, and she would pay around 20,000.
My wife is a citizen and lived and worked in the U. S all her life. She has the ssn number I do not...
Could we however go into a contract that is binding over the house, if I wasn't on the deed?????
As I do not have this tax number to use to allow me to go on the deeds at this time... Regards...

RICH

You don't need a visa to buy property, just money. If your question is really about getting a mortgage, my experience is that my USC wife got the loan in her name back in the day. After the divorce, I got my own mortgage, by which time I had a credit history and PR. In Florida at least, both spouses are on the deeds regardless of who has the loan.

edit- So you are paying cash. I don't think lack of SSN is an issue. Only lack of certainty on the visa front is a concern. Is there a reason your marriage based visa might not be granted?

Tkd67

We don't need a mortgage as we're paying cash, but I've since learned I need a itin number from there tax office as I yet do not have a ssn .. I can apply for this after purchase, but my one question is, would a contract written up for my usc wife and myself be enough and legally binding in the even of something going wrong with us both...
We are rock solid but it would be for piece of mind...
The reason buying now is the fact we would be saving at least $6000 in the time I get my visa as we or she wouldn't be paying rent...
Hope that all makes sense....

RICH

I don't see why you need a ITIN number, but I understand it is quite easy to apply for one. ITIN and SSN should not be in the equation of buying a house for cash, only if applying for a loan.

Maybe the county/city needs it for tax collection? but your wifes ssn should suffice.

Tkd67

Yes the wife would need her ssn to go ahead with the purchase, but because I didn't know about the Itin, only she will be on the deeds... Until I can get my number ... Any idea ??? On what tax form I need ?? Regards...

RICH

I am no expert but ! am fairly sure

1 You don,t need a visa or ssn or itin to buy a house with cash
2 the deed will be recorded with both spouse listed
3 Taxes are levied on the property /owner (ie both are liable)

It sounds like you are doubting the loyalty of your spouse?

Tkd67

Rete

I thought the law had been changed that an ITIN is only given at the time of filing your first federal income tax. Double check as the law changes constantly.

As for buying property outright, personally, I think that is foolish. Money can be making money for you when it is invested. A mortgage will provide you with interest deductions on your income taxes while your money is accumulating interest. Consult with a financial advisor before you do this.

Noorah101

To my knowledge, you can't even GET an ITIN number until you file your first US tax return, and that's only if you can't get a SSN, which you will during your first 2 weeks in the USA after you arrive on your visa.

Since you want to pay with cash, there won't be a mortgage, no loans, so no SSN needed from you.

If, for some reason, it ends up that the deed only goes into your wife's name, she can very easily add you to the deed after you arrive in the USA and have your SSN (if indeed that is needed, but doubtful). I owned my own home before my foreign husband came to the USA, and I added his name to the deed after his arrival.

You might also want to look into whether owning property in the USA does anything to your UK taxes.

Rene

Tkd67

The only thing I do know is that she added me to her tax returns due to being married as it had to be declared??????
​​​​​​I'll have to delve deeper.... Thank you....

Noorah101

It depends. The only requirement is that she file her US tax return in the "married" category. That could be "married filing jointly" (in which case you'd need either a SSN or ITIN number, neither of which it seems you have, and you would have had to sign the tax return), or "married filing separately" (in which case she doesn't need anything from you).

Rene

tom169

Risky to buy a property without the ability to live there. Also concerning wording from a married person talking about separate finances (him paying some and her paying some).

lansbury