Home financing in York County.

York County is home to a wide range of workers: tradespeople and solo contractors in construction, healthcare workers at York Hospital and Southern Maine Health Care, seasonal hospitality workers, agricultural workers in the Saco River corridor, and a growing number of Spanish-speaking residents and immigrants — many of whom are self-employed or work in cash-based industries.

**General qualification factors lenders look at:**

- Credit score (many local programs accept 580 or above; ITIN programs may not require traditional credit at all)

- Steady income or documented self-employment income (1099s, tax returns, bank statements)

- Debt-to-income ratio, typically below 43–50%

- Down payment funds and their source

- Two years of work history in the same field (some flexibility for recent trade license holders)

**For solo contractors and self-employed borrowers:** Lenders will want to see two years of federal tax returns, a profit-and-loss statement, and business bank statements. If you have written off large expenses, your taxable income may look lower than your actual cash flow — this is one of the most common stumbling blocks for contractors. A local credit union or CDFI loan officer can often work with you on this more flexibly than a large bank.

**For ITIN borrowers:** You do not need a Social Security number to buy a home in Maine. You will need a valid ITIN, consistent work history, and typically 10–20% down. Some lenders also accept alternative credit references such as utility payment history, rent records, or remittance receipts.

Gathering paperwork ahead of time saves weeks. Here is a practical checklist for York County borrowers:

**For all borrowers:**

- Government-issued photo ID (passport, state ID, consular ID / matrícula consular are accepted by ITIN lenders)

- ITIN letter or Social Security card

- Two most recent years of federal tax returns (all pages, all schedules)

- Two most recent W-2s or 1099s

- Two to three months of bank statements (all accounts)

- Most recent pay stubs (if employed)

- Proof of any additional income (rental income, child support, etc.)

- Landlord contact information or 12 months of rent payment records

**For self-employed / solo contractor borrowers, add:**

- Business tax returns (Schedule C or corporate returns)

- Year-to-date profit-and-loss statement

- Business bank statements (last 3–6 months)

- Copy of contractor's license or business registration

- Any active contracts or letters of ongoing work

**For investment or rental property purchases, add:**

- Current lease agreements if property is already rented

- Documentation of any other properties you own

- Reserves (lenders often want 3–6 months of mortgage payments in savings)

Tip: Keep digital copies of everything. Many local lenders and CDFIs now use secure online document portals, making it easier to submit from your phone.