Undocumented migrants — along with non-citizens — have been buying homes in the United States for years.

Also, those in this country illegally — also known as undocumented migrants — have been able to obtain mortgages.

There is no reason to have a cow over that per se. But if you want to have the mother of all cows about what you read shortly, no one is going to blame you.

But first a touch of reality.

There are more than 3 million undocumented immigrants in the United States who are homeowners. That’s according to the Migration Policy Institute.

The 3 million plus homeowners that are non-citizens residing in this country legally, pay $3.6 billion annually in property taxes. That’s according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

So how do the undocumented immigrants buy homes and get mortgages?

By working their tails off like everyone else.

Some pay cash. Some get mortgages. And among those that get mortgages are more than a few who live in the Manteca-Lathrop area who work on farms. All farmworkers don’t move from one part of California to another and not all farm jobs are minimum wage.

Also among those homeowners are DREAMers. They came to United States as kids, brought here by their parents.

They were educated here, they served in the military, they work here. They have jobs in the medical field. They have jobs in technology.

There are also illegal immigrants that were well-heeled before they arrived in the United States.

But if they don’t pay in cash, and need a mortgage, how do they qualify?

Conforming or traditional mortgages require a legitimate Social Security number or a Taxpayer Identification Number plus documentation such as a green or work visa as proof they are authorized to live and work in the United States. A Taxpayer Identification Number is given to someone by the IRS who doesn’t qualify for Social Security.

Non-residents or those whose residency documentation has expired can apply for non-qualifying mortgages.

 To qualify for such a loan, they need a credit score at least in the high 500s to low 600s.

Lenders will verify income to see if it is consistent, stable and high enough.

It may include asking for bank statements and verifying employment.

To secure non-conforming loans often means much higher interest rates with at least 20 percent down.

Experts say non-conforming loans often end up paying an average of $500 or more a month.

It isn’t easy for undocumented immigrants — regardless if they once had a work visa or not — to get a non-conforming loan.

And because they are considered more of a risk by lenders, that means larger downpayments and higher mortgage rate.

That said, there are plenty of homeowners out there paying mortgages that lack documentation that they are in the United States legally.

They can do so because  they are essentially long-term — and financially stable — workers.

If you were unaware that was possible for those in the United States without documentation being able to buy a house let alone 3 million that already are doing so by paying down mortgages, then you’ve drank the red and blue Kool-Aid.

The party animals on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly failed to take a holistic approach to immigration related issues over the past 40 plus years even when the “same side” controlled the White House and Congress.

They even can’t do the right thing when both sides virtually agree it is the right thing such as giving citizenship to DREAMers.

Have a cow about illegals owning homes and qualifying for home ownership if you want, but the reality is they checked all of the boxes.

There is no law in any state — except perhaps those passed to prevent Chinese nationals from snapping up land near military installations and other sensitive sites — that prevent those who are not legal residents from buying property.

And that applies to whether they are highly skilled tech workers who stayed in the United States after their work visa expired or those that entered the country illegally across the border.

Now for the part where you are likely to have the cow of all cows.

The California Legislature — that just recently turned a $97.5 billion surplus into a $45 billion deficit in less than 18 months —  wants to make undocumented immigrants eligible for up to $150,000 in state-supported home loans.

Before anyone — including those who are the most liberal when it comes to legal and illegal immigration or the most conservative — starts lining up in predictable camps, there is one question to ask.

Why not make access to the American Dream via state-supported home loans up to $150,000 available to every Californian that can financially make mortgage payments including those here legally whether by birth or legal immigration?

That’s exactly what Fresno Democrat Joaquin Arambula’s bill does.

It would provide 20 percent in down payment assistance up to $150,000 for undocumented immigrants.

Not documented immigrants.

Not citizens by birth.

Just undocumented immigrants.

 That’s because the bill expands a program already run by the California Housing Authority that does exactly what the Fresno Democrat wants to do for qualified undocumented immigrants, as it already does for legal immigrants and citizens by birth.

The only interest the homebuyer pays would be 15 or 20 percent of the home’s increase in value upon selling the property, depending on their income level.

It is run by the California Housing Authority.

And while the agency receives state funding, the revenue used for mortgage loans per se  is generated through mortgage revenue and doesn’t come from taxpayers..

Arambula’s bill clearly states applicants must meet requirements set by the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, including having a taxpayer identification number or social security number to apply for a loan, which means they’re taxpayers.

 It is the same criteria that applies to everyone else that applies for a loan through the program.

You have to be financially solid and have a stable household to qualify.

That’s where having the mother of all cows come into play.

We’re talking about Californians who pulled their weight.

They aren’t “crossing” the border as you read this.

Instead, they have been helping build the California economy for a long time.

And it may be true that they aren’t “legally here” thanks in no small part of a dysfunctional federal immigration program, they are clearly good of enough risks to qualify for a mortgage.

We need to clean up the immigration mess.

And that includes having a better control on allowing people to simply end up here on their own terms whether their entry is with a passport coming through an airport or without one coming across the border on foot.

It also includes a path to citizenship for those that check all of the boxes of what we want people to be contributing, productive, law-abiding  citizens.

Yes, they broke a law by being here.

But if they have a lifestyle and track record that positions them to qualify for a mortgage, why would we not want them to be citizens?

This column is the opinion of editor, Dennis Wyatt, and does not necessarily represent the opinions of The Bulletin or 209 Multimedia. He can be reached at dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com