USDA
USDA loans are a 100% financing option for buyers in eligible rural and suburban areas with low-to-moderate household income. No down payment, lower fees than FHA, and a great fit for first-time buyers in qualifying areas — with two easy eligibility checks up front: the property's location and your total household income.
Key Benefits
- 100% financing — zero down payment required
- Lower upfront and annual fees than FHA
- Loan can exceed the home price to finance the guarantee fee
- Credit scores accepted as low as 580
- Streamlined Assist refinance for existing USDA loans — no appraisal or income docs
- Purchase, refinance, and USDA one-time close construction options
Who It's For
Buyers without a large down payment who are buying in a USDA-eligible area — which is a lot more of the country than "rural" implies, including many small towns and the outer suburbs of major metros — and whose total household income falls under USDA's county limit. Strongest fit for moderate-income first-time buyers in rural and semi-rural counties.
The USDA Process
- 1
Check eligibility
We confirm the property and income guidelines for you.
- 2
Get pre-approved
A clear USDA pre-approval.
- 3
Close with $0 down
Move in without a down payment.
Check USDA eligibility
USDA loans have two big eligibility filters: the property's location and your total household income. Check both right here.
Household income limit lookup
Pick your state, county or MSA, and household size — see the maximum income for the USDA Guaranteed program.
Count everyone who will live in the home — adults are counted whether or not they're on the loan. For households of 9+, USDA adds 8% of the 4-person limit per additional person.
Maximum household income
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USDA Guaranteed Housing Program income limits for FY 2025, sourced from HUD/USDA HB-1-3555 Appendix V. Limit is your total household income, not just borrower income. Not a loan offer or determination of eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two big USDA eligibility checks?
Two things decide whether you can use a USDA loan: (1) the property's location must be in a USDA-eligible area, and (2) your total household income must fall under the county's USDA limit. Both are quick yes/no checks — we confirm both before you go far down the road.
Is my area eligible? How do I check?
USDA publishes an interactive eligibility map at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov. Enter the property address and it confirms whether the location qualifies. Common misconception: "rural" covers a lot more than working farms — many small towns, edge-of-metro suburbs, and growing communities qualify. Not sure? Send us the address and we will confirm.
What are the USDA income limits?
USDA caps household income by county and household size (1–4 person and 5–8 person tiers). It is total household income — not just income from people on the loan — so adults living in the home count even if they are not borrowers. You can look up your county at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov, or use our county lookup right here on the site once it is live. Until then, send us your county and household size and we will pull the current limit.
What credit score do I need for a USDA loan?
580 minimum for standard USDA, 620 for multi-width manufactured homes, 640 for single-width. All files run through USDA's Guaranteed Underwriting System (GUS); manual underwriting is permitted for most property types (single-width manufactured is the exception).
What about DTI — is it really strict?
Yes. DTI is determined by GUS and is generally stricter than FHA or conventional in practice. Stretching DTI requires a GUS Accept and strong compensating factors (cash reserves, low payment shock, residual income, stable employment). It is the trade-off for 100% financing and lower fees — we will model your specific scenario before you commit time to a USDA file that may not fit.
What fees does USDA charge?
Lower than FHA: a one-time upfront guarantee fee (currently 1.0% of the loan, typically financed into the loan) and an annual fee (currently 0.35% of the loan balance, added monthly to your payment). For those who qualify, USDA is the cheapest 0%-down option around.
What types of homes qualify?
Owner-occupied single-family residences, PUDs (attached or detached), and warrantable condos. Manufactured homes are eligible if they are 20 years old or newer (multi-width 620 score; single-width 640 + manual underwriting). USDA is purchase, refinance, and one-time close construction — see our Construction page for that path.
Can I refinance an existing USDA loan?
Yes — if your current loan is already USDA, the Streamlined Assist refinance is the easiest path: no appraisal, no income verification, no GUS run. You generally need 12 consecutive months of on-time payments on the existing loan. It is USDA's equivalent of FHA's Streamline refinance.
What's the most common reason people don't qualify for USDA?
Three usual blockers: (1) the property falls outside the eligibility map, (2) household income exceeds the county limit, or (3) DTI is too tight. The good news: the first two are fast yes/no checks — we won't waste your time on a USDA file that won't fit, and if it doesn't, we will route you to the best alternative (FHA, conventional, or another niche program).
Ready to get started?
Let's talk through your options. No pressure, no obligation — just straight answers from a team that does this every day.
