Diggers Realm has posted an expose about "Citibank Offering Illegal Aliens Mortgages With Below Market Interest Rates, Down Payment Assistance And No Mortgage Insurance Requirements:" The article goes on to describe an illegal alien who had a friend ...

On July 1, 1996, the IRS began assigning individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) to aliens who are otherwise ineligible for SSNs but who need taxpayer identification numbers for tax purposes. See generally 61 Fed. Reg. 26,788 (May 29, 1996).

An ITIN is a tax processing number for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents. It should be used only for income tax purposes. ITINs do not entitle aliens to social security benefits or the earned income tax credit, create any inferences regarding aliens’ immigration statuses, or give aliens a right to work in the United States.

If ITINs do not 'create any inferences regarding status' or 'give the aliens the right to work' why on God's green Earth would some one who is not allowed to be here legally need to have one?

A 3 bed, 2bath home could probably be gotten for $265K easily in many cities.

I can't imagine Citibanc subsidized the payments. Why would they? It's possible ACORN did, however.

Or it may be that she bought the place for a whole lot less and it's just appraised at that much now.

Estela, the first to secure a local loan, is a house cleaner from Mexico City. She has lived, worked and paid taxes in San Diego County for 13 years but has no legal right to be here. However, Estela does have a tax-ID number.

ACORN Housing officials disclosed her identity to The San Diego Union-Tribune on the condition her full name not be used. Six years ago, Estela asked an American friend to help her buy a home. She paid the costs, his name was on the loan and title. But a tax lien frightened her friend, who transferred the title to Estela. When the mortgage company found out she was an illegal immigrant, it demanded full payment.

Estela thought she would have to sell her three-bedroom home or lose it. That is, until she heard about the tax-ID loan program. In October, Estela signed the final documents for a new mortgage issued by Citibank.

It doesn't say what it cost six years ago. Likely much less. But, still, one would think out of reach for a housekeeper.

It said it was appraised at $565k. Maybe she got a sweet deal on the purchase price as well, and/or put down a substantial down payment (which might affect the interest rate as well...)

Although I really think we have picked--and what we have picked is: "please come and take our low paying, menial jobs"--and we have done so for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being that the economic forces in play have pulled us there and will continue to do so. Not to mention that to really chose the other option would be far more expensive and distasteful than many are willing to face.