live in canada, work in the states buying a house on TN?

I think it has finally got to be, the cross border traffic and the higher canadian dollar, I have a TN visa as an engineer, i just went to the border with a letter from my employer and my diploma, i am currently looking to buy a hosue in MI, can i do that on a TN visa, i have been seraching all over these websites and it really does not say, all i have is a TN visa stapled into my passport, do you get a SSN with your TN? any help would be appercated, Thanks

well ive got a house in michigan i am currentl foreclosing on.if you buy it maybe the lawyers will leave me alone?
yes i bought on TN visa. mortgage companies dont really care, as long as you can prove your income. just please be smart. alot of americans enjoy buying more than they can afford by taking interest only arms, not thinking that in 3 years or whatever they still owe all the principle back over and above the maximum affordable interest only payment they were initially approved for.

Of course you can buy a house as a TN nonimmigrant.

Thanks for the help

Hello
You can indeed purchase real estate in the US on a TN Visa. However, please note that TN Visas are non immigrant visas which means that you should maintain your ties to Canada while you are on a TN Visa. This could mean maintaining a bank account, residence, in Canada etc. When it comes time for renewal, an officer may make inquiries about your ties to Canada.

Thanks again!

That's the tricky part: "Maintaining your ties"

When I got my TN visa at the boarder, the customs agent asked me whether I own a home in Canada, I said I do, but would eventually sell it. She said I HAVE to either own a home in Canada, or prove that I'm contributing to the expenses of a residence in Canada (e.g. my mom's place) to be eligible for my Visa.

I find that kinda tricky. I want to buy a house in the US too, and I can't afford it if I'm still paying a mortgage on my Canadian home on top of paying income taxes as a Canadian property owner. And how could I prove that I'm supporting my mom's home if I pay her in cash?

Does anyone know whether I can sell my place in Canada without losing my TN status? And what's the correct way of handling the boarder agent when I do?

Cheers,
SToken

You can be a mass murderer locked up in prison in Tasmania and buy real estate in the US, they don't care where the money comes from or who has title to it with some very limited exceptions. Property ownership and immigration are two separate things.

The real problem on a TN-1 is that it sounds as though you will be crossing frequently and you might have problems explaining to the USCIS that you are not intending to reside permanently in the US.