
Horry County — home to Myrtle Beach and a fast-growing coastal economy — has a range of home financing options beyond the big banks, including local credit unions, CDFI lenders, and state-backed programs designed for first-time buyers and small investors. Whether you have a Social Security number or an ITIN, there are real pathways to ownership here. This guide walks you through who qualifies, what documents you need, which local institutions to approach, and what traps to avoid along the way.
Every institution below comes from public federal data — the CDFI Fund certified list (Jan 2026), NCUA credit union data (Mar 2026), and the SBA microloan intermediary list — plus a short national tier we verified by hand. No listing is paid.
Zero-interest lending circles and credit building. SSN or ITIN accepted. Works through nonprofit partners across the country.
Nonprofit small-business lender. Accepts ITIN in place of SSN. Serves most states, in English and Spanish.
Microloans for women entrepreneurs. Requires photo ID and proof of address — no SSN requirement. Branches in major metro areas.
Ask Iris. She'll explain it the way it should have been explained the first time.
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