Home financing in Muskingum County.

Home financing means borrowing money to buy, build, or refinance a property — and agreeing to pay it back over time, usually with interest. The most common tool is a mortgage: a loan secured by the home itself. If you stop making payments, the lender can take the property through foreclosure, so understanding what you are signing matters a great deal.

There are several types of home loans available in Muskingum County:

• **Conventional loans** — offered by banks and credit unions, usually requiring a credit score of 620 or higher and a down payment of 3–20%.

• **FHA loans** — backed by the federal government, allowing down payments as low as 3.5% and credit scores as low as 580. A strong choice for first-time buyers with limited savings.

• **USDA Rural Development loans** — many parts of Muskingum County outside Zanesville qualify for zero-down USDA loans because they meet the federal definition of rural.

• **VA loans** — available to eligible veterans and active-duty service members with no down payment required.

• **Portfolio loans** — held in-house by local banks or credit unions and not sold to the secondary market; these can be more flexible for self-employed borrowers or those with non-traditional income.

• **ITIN loans** — offered by select lenders to borrowers who do not have a Social Security number but do have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). More on this below.

For small real-estate investors, there are also landlord or investment-property loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and renovation loans such as the FHA 203(k).

Muskingum County's economy is anchored by healthcare (Genesis Health System is the county's largest employer), manufacturing, retail trade, and a growing number of independent contractors and tradespeople in construction and home services. That mix matters because lenders evaluate income differently depending on how you earn it.

**If you are a W-2 employee**, qualification is generally straightforward. Lenders want to see two years of steady employment and a debt-to-income ratio below 43–50%.

**If you are a solo contractor or self-employed**, lenders will look at your last two years of tax returns — specifically your net income after deductions.

Many contractors legitimately write off a lot of expenses, which can reduce the income a lender sees on paper.

A local lender or credit union offering a portfolio loan may be more willing to look at bank statements, contracts, or profit-and-loss statements alongside your returns.

**If you use an ITIN instead of a Social Security number**, you can still qualify for a mortgage through ITIN loan programs. These are not widely advertised, but they do exist at select lenders and credit unions. You will typically need a larger down payment (10–20%), a strong rental or payment history, and two years of ITIN-filed tax returns.

**Median home prices in Muskingum County** are well below the state average — roughly $140,000–$180,000 for a single-family home in and around Zanesville as of recent data — making monthly payments more manageable than in Columbus or Cleveland. That also means a smaller down payment amount in real dollars, which lowers the savings barrier for first-time buyers.

Gathering paperwork before you approach a lender saves time and reduces stress. The exact list depends on your loan type, but here is a solid starting point for most borrowers in Muskingum County:

**For all borrowers:**

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

• Social Security number or ITIN

• Two 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 (30 days) — or, if self-employed, a year-to-date profit-and-loss statement

• Documentation of any other income (rental income, child support, disability, etc.)

• Landlord contact information or 12 months of canceled rent checks if you currently rent

**For self-employed contractors:**

• Business bank statements (12–24 months)

• Business license or LLC registration

• CPA letter confirming self-employment status (some lenders require this)

• Contracts or letters of engagement showing ongoing work

**For investment properties:**

• Lease agreements on any existing rentals you own

• Schedule E from your tax return showing rental income/loss

• Proof of reserves (lenders typically want 2–6 months of mortgage payments in savings for investment loans)

**For ITIN borrowers:**

• ITIN card or IRS letter confirming your ITIN

• Two years of ITIN-filed tax returns

• 12 months of on-time utility or rent payment records

• Individual Taxpayer Identification Number-issued bank account statements