Home financing in Harrison County.
County-by-county financing guides. No paperwork. No social. No ID.
No institution is headquartered inside the Harrison County line, but 3 keep an office open here. They are below, by name and by town.
Not this lane? Business FinancingPersonal Financing
The doors in Harrison County.
The CDFIs, credit unions, and microlenders that actually say yes — county by county, in two languages. We are not a lender. Nobody paid to be listed. And where a county has no good doors, we say so.
- 3
- DOORS HERE
- 0
- BASED HERE
- 108
- TX COUNTIES WITH DOORS
- Lane
- Home Financing
- People
- 69Kresidents of Harrison County
- Elsewhere in TX
- Harris County →51 doors — the biggest list of any other county in Texas
- State
- Texas →108 of 254 counties hold a door in this lane
Based elsewhere, with a member-facing office inside the Harrison County line. You can walk in.
- East Texas Professional Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Eastman Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Red River Employees Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Mission Asset FundAccepts ITIN
Zero-interest lending circles and credit building. SSN or ITIN accepted. Works through nonprofit partners across the country.
Personal - Accion Opportunity FundAccepts ITIN
Nonprofit small-business lender. Accepts ITIN in place of SSN. Serves most states, in English and Spanish.
Business capital - Grameen AmericaAccepts ITIN
Microloans for women entrepreneurs. Requires photo ID and proof of address — no SSN requirement. Branches in major metro areas.
Business capital
How to read this list.
We do not ask for your name, your email, or your number. Nothing on this page changes based on who you are.
A door is headquartered here when its head office sits inside the county line. The rest are based elsewhere and keep a branch you can walk into. We list both, and we label which is which.
Every institution on this page comes from public federal data — the CDFI Fund certified list (Aug 2026), NCUA credit union data (Jun 2026), and the SBA microloan intermediary list (Sep 2026) — plus a short national tier we verified by hand. We refresh each list as its agency publishes. No listing is paid.
This guide helps solo contractors, first-time buyers, and small real-estate investors in Harrison County, Texas understand their home financing options. We highlight local credit unions, ITIN-friendly lenders, CDFIs, and Texas-specific programs that actually serve Marshall and the surrounding communities. Federal programs like FHA and USDA are useful tools, but the right local intermediary is what makes them work for you. Take your time, compare your options, and never feel pressured to sign anything quickly.
It's a process, not a rejection.
Home financing is any loan or program that helps you purchase, build, or improve a home. In Harrison County — anchored by the city of Marshall and surrounded by rural East Texas land — buyers have access to several types of financing:
- 01**Conventional mortgages**
Offered by banks and credit unions, usually requiring a credit score above 620 and a down payment of 3–20%.
- 02**FHA loans**
Backed by the federal government, these allow down payments as low as 3.5% and are more flexible on credit scores. Great for first-time buyers.
- 03**USDA Rural Development loans**
Much of Harrison County qualifies as a rural area, making USDA loans a strong option. These can offer zero down payment for eligible buyers.
- 04**ITIN-based mortgages**
For buyers who do not have a Social Security number, some local and regional lenders accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead.
- 05**Texas state-assisted loans**
Programs through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) add down payment help and favorable interest rates on top of FHA or conventional loans.
- MISSING ONE?Ask Iris which one you're missing.ASK A QUESTION ↓
Forget what the banks say.
Harrison County's economy is rooted in oil and gas, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and agriculture. Many residents work as independent contractors, seasonal workers, or self-employed tradespeople — and standard mortgage underwriting doesn't always reflect that kind of income fairly.
Here's what local lenders typically look for, and how it applies to common Harrison County borrower profiles:
Solo contractors and self-employed workers: You will likely need two years of tax returns (Schedule C or 1099s), a profit-and-loss statement, and business bank statements. Some local credit unions offer portfolio loans — meaning they keep the loan in-house and can use more flexible documentation.
ITIN borrowers: If you pay U.S. taxes using an ITIN and do not have a Social Security number, you can still qualify for a home loan with certain lenders. You will typically need 2–3 years of ITIN tax returns, a larger down payment (often 10–20%), and proof of stable income.
First-time buyers with limited credit: A credit score below 620 is not necessarily disqualifying. Some CDFIs and ITIN-friendly lenders look at alternative credit history — rent payments, utility bills, and remittance records.
USDA eligibility in Harrison County: Large portions of Harrison County — including communities outside Marshall proper — qualify for USDA Rural Development loans. These require no down payment, but income limits apply (generally around 115% of the area median income). Check the USDA eligibility map at usda.gov before assuming you don't qualify.
Income limits for TDHCA programs: Texas state programs typically serve households earning 80–115% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Harrison County's AMI is lower than in major metro areas, which often means more buyers here qualify than they realize.
Get your papers in order.
Gathering your paperwork before you talk to a lender puts you in a stronger position. Here is a plain-language checklist for most home loan applications in Harrison County:
Identity and residency
- Government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or consular ID/matrícula)
- Social Security card OR ITIN confirmation letter from the IRS
- If applicable: visa, green card, or work authorization documents
Income and employment
- Last 2 years of federal tax returns (1040s, with all schedules)
- Last 2 years of W-2s or 1099s
- If self-employed: profit-and-loss statement for the current year
- Last 2–3 months of pay stubs (if employed by someone else)
- Last 3–6 months of bank statements (personal and business, if applicable)
Assets and debts
- Bank and investment account statements
- Documentation of any gift funds (a gift letter from the donor)
- List of current debts: car loans, student loans, credit cards
Property information
- Address of the home you want to purchase
- A signed purchase contract (if you already have one)
- Information about the property type (single-family, manufactured home, rural land, etc.)
Note for manufactured home buyers: Harrison County has a significant number of manufactured homes. Financing these can be more complex — ask specifically whether a lender has experience with HUD-classified manufactured housing, because not all do.
The doors worth knowing.
This is the most important section.
ALL 3 DOORS, BY NAME AND BY TOWN- 3
- DOORS HERE
- 182
- ACROSS TX
Based in Longview, Texas. A credit union — owned by its members rather than by shareholders, which is exactly what changes the conversation after a bank has said no.
BEST FORA personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing, and buying, repairing or refinancing a home.Based in Kingsport, Tennessee. A member-owned credit union, which means the people deciding on your file answer to depositors in the same towns you work in.
BEST FORBuying, repairing or refinancing a home, and working capital, equipment and payroll for a small business.Based in Texarkana, Texas. A credit union: no shareholders to satisfy, and a habit of reading a whole story rather than a single score.
BEST FORWorking capital, equipment and payroll for a small business, and a personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing.
Don't fall into these traps.
Not every lender has your best interests at heart. Here are specific warning signs to watch for, especially in rural East Texas markets:
These arrangements — sometimes marketed as an easy path to homeownership without a traditional mortgage — can leave buyers with none of the legal protections of a real mortgage. You make payments for years without ever holding title. If a seller offers to 'carry the note' without involving a licensed lender, consult a Texas real estate attorney before signing anything.
Some manufactured home dealers in East Texas bundle the home sale with high-interest chattel loans (personal property loans) that carry rates far above market. These loans are not subject to the same protections as real property mortgages. Ask specifically if the loan will be secured as real property.
In Spanish-speaking communities, some individuals call themselves 'notario público' and imply they can provide legal or immigration-related financial services. In Texas, a notary public has no legal authority to give immigration or mortgage advice. Always work with a licensed mortgage loan officer (MLO) whose credentials you can verify at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Legitimate lenders charge an appraisal fee (typically $400–$600) at or after application, and some charge an application fee. No legitimate lender asks for large upfront cash payments before processing your loan.
If a loan officer tells you that you must lock your rate immediately or lose a special deal, slow down. Rate locks are a standard part of the mortgage process and should not feel like a high-pressure sales tactic.
Some lenders encourage you to refinance repeatedly, generating fees each time without meaningfully improving your situation. If someone calls you out of the blue suggesting a refinance, ask detailed questions about the total cost.
In rural markets, appraisals can sometimes be manipulated to justify an inflated sale price. If an appraisal comes back unusually high and the seller is pressuring a quick close, consider getting an independent opinion.
Everything below is set by Texas, and it reads the same in every county in it. The 3 marks above are this county's own doors — who opens one is decided by them, not by the state.
The rules where you are.
Texas has some of the most borrower-protective mortgage laws in the country — but also some quirks that can surprise buyers. Here is what matters most for Harrison County:
Once you designate a property as your homestead, it receives strong legal protections. Creditors generally cannot force the sale of your homestead to pay most debts. This is a significant protection — make sure you file your homestead exemption with the Harrison County Appraisal District after you close.
If you later want to borrow against your home's equity, Texas law limits this to 80% of the home's fair market value and requires specific disclosures and a 12-day waiting period. These rules exist to protect you from over-borrowing.
Harrison County property taxes can be significant. Factor this into your monthly budget — lenders will include an escrow estimate, but make sure you understand what you're actually paying annually. Senior and disabled homeowners may qualify for exemptions through the Harrison County Appraisal District.
Texas has a specific titling process for manufactured homes. If you are buying a manufactured home on land, it must be properly titled as real property (not personal property) for most mortgage programs to apply. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) oversees manufactured housing regulation.
Under federal law, you must receive your Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing. Do not let any lender pressure you to waive this review period.
Texas offers its own veterans home loan program, separate from federal VA loans. It is available to Texas resident veterans and active-duty military. The VLB Land Loan program is particularly useful in rural Harrison County for land purchases.
The short version.
- 01
Buying a home in Harrison County is very achievable — whether you are a first-time buyer, a solo contractor, an ITIN holder, or a rural land investor. Here is a straightforward path forward:
- 02
1. Check your eligibility for USDA: Since much of Harrison County is rural, zero-down USDA loans may be available to you. Visit the USDA eligibility map online before assuming you don't qualify.
- 03
2. Contact a HUD-approved counselor first: This is free, confidential, and gives you a neutral assessment of your financial readiness. Find one at hud.gov/counseling.
- 04
3. Reach out to a local credit union: Beacon Credit Union (Marshall) or East Texas Professional Credit Union (Longview) are good starting points. Local credit unions often offer more flexible terms and lower fees than national banks.
Same county, another question.
Business FinancingLoans, lines of credit, and capital for small businesses and contractorsSEE IT IN HARRISON COUNTY →
Personal FinancingPersonal loans, credit building, and ITIN-friendly financing optionsSEE IT IN HARRISON COUNTY →108TX COUNTIES WITH DOORSThe whole stateEvery county in Texas, in this same lane.182 institutions fund homes and repairs inside Texas county lines.OPEN THE STATE →Still don't see your situation?
Ask Iris. She'll explain it the way it should have been explained the first time.