USDA Loans

A USDA Loan is a mortgage loan that is insured by the US Department of Agriculture and available to qualified individuals who are purchasing or refinancing their home loan in an area that is not considered a major metropolitan area by USDA.

There is a large misconception behind the USDA loan. It is often believed that only farmers or people involved in farming or agriculture can qualify for these types of loans. This is a misnomer! In fact, USDA loans are dispersed to many borrowers for whom are not farmers and have absolutely nothing to do with farming and agro.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, there are several houses available to purchase under the USDA loan program. There are many factors that determine which program one might fall into and by no means are you excluded by your lack of farming experience.

Of the different programs of eligibility, there are single family housing guarantees, multi-family Housing guarantees, Housing direct, and rural business.

There are also some income specifications that must be met. With that said, qualifying for a USDA loan is often times easier than qualifying for an FHA or Conventional loan.

  • 100% Financing – you can buy a home with no money down. In some cases you can even finance your closing costs.
  • You can refinance your home up to 100% of the value of your home.
  • Low Fixed Rate Mortgage Options.
  • They are usually easier to get because the Government insures the loan so that there is much less risk to the lender.
  • They can be used for Existing Homes, Foreclosures or New Construction.
  • Simple Loan Process.
  • No Loan Limit. No Acreage Limit.
  • There is No Prepayment Penalty.
  • You can use the loan to repair or add on to your home.
  • Flexible Credit Requirements.

Generally these loans are available to anyone who meets minimum credit guidelines and local area income requirements and is purchasing a home or refinancing their home in an area that is not considered a major metropolitan area by USDA.

Some common misconceptions of USDA Loans:

  • They are just for farmers – USDA Loans are not “just for farmers,” millions of people from all walks of life already qualify.
  • FHA or Conventional Loans are better – USDA Loans often offer better terms than an FHA or conventional loans.
  • They aren’t flexible – Actually, USDA Home Loans can be used to buy a new home or refinance to a lower rate.
  • Only certain people can qualify – Anyone who meets the income and credit guidelines can qualify for a USDA Home Loan.
  • They are only for rural areas – Actually, USDA Loans are available in many areas that most people would not consider rural. For example, many small communities just outside of metropolitan areas qualify as rural areas according to the US Department of Agriculture.
  • They are harder to get than FHA or Conventional Loans – This just isn’t true.  In many cases USDA Loans are actually easier to get because the loans are guaranteed by the government.