NPR's All Things Considered ran an interesting story today about immigrant buyers.

Per the story (listen here) . . .

• 12% of the U.S. population is foreign born.
• An increasing share of first time buyers are immigrants.
• In 2005, 10% of all homeowners were immigrants.
• In 2005, 18% of first-time home buyers over the previous four years were immigrants.
  

Additionally, some lenders offer loan programs to residents without social secuirty numbers.