Home financing in Daviess County.

Daviess County's economy is anchored by healthcare (Owensboro Health), manufacturing, agriculture, and a growing service sector. Many workers here are hourly employees, self-employed tradespeople, small business owners, or seasonal workers — and lenders who serve this area understand those income patterns.

**General qualification factors:**

- A steady income history (typically 2 years, but some programs are flexible)

- A debt-to-income ratio (DTI) below 43–50%, meaning your monthly debts should not eat up too much of your gross income

- A credit score of at least 580 for FHA loans, or 620+ for conventional loans (some ITIN programs have different benchmarks)

- A down payment — programs exist to help if you have little saved

**Solo contractors and self-employed workers:** You will need to show two years of tax returns (Schedule C or 1099s). Lenders will average your net income, not your gross revenue. Some local CDFIs and credit unions are more experienced with this than big banks.

**ITIN borrowers:** If you do not have a Social Security number, you can still qualify for a mortgage in Kentucky using your ITIN. You will need a longer history of on-time rent payments, utility bills, and at least 2 years of ITIN-filed tax returns. Certain local lenders specialize in this — see Section 4.

**First-time buyers:** Kentucky has specific down-payment assistance programs that can help residents of Daviess County, detailed in Section 5.

Gathering your paperwork ahead of time speeds up the process and reduces stress. Here is what most lenders in Daviess County will ask for:

**Identity & residency:**

- Government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or consular ID / matrícula consular)

- ITIN letter (if applicable) or Social Security card

- Proof of residency (utility bill, lease agreement)

**Income:**

- Last 2 years of federal tax returns (W-2s, 1099s, or full returns if self-employed)

- Last 2–3 months of pay stubs (if employed by someone else)

- Profit and loss statement (if self-employed or a contractor)

- Bank statements from the last 2–3 months

**Assets & debts:**

- Statements for all checking, savings, or investment accounts

- List of current monthly debts (car loan, student loan, credit cards)

**Property:**

- Purchase agreement or address of property you want to buy

**For ITIN borrowers, additionally:**

- 12–24 months of rent payment history (letters from landlord or cancelled checks)

- 12 months of utility bills showing consistent payment

- ITIN tax returns for at least 2 years

Tip: Make copies of everything. Never hand over originals unless absolutely necessary.