Who’s a Good Fit for USDA
Buyers who will live in the house, want a low or zero down-payment path, and are looking at a property that USDA’s map treats as eligible. Income limits apply. It is not a second-home or investment program.
If you are a veteran with entitlement, look at VA first. If the house is deep in the core city and the map says no, we talk about FHA, conventional, or first-time buyer paths instead of forcing USDA.
Property map — start here
USDA is geography-first. Before we argue about credit or down payment, we check the address (or the area you are shopping) on the USDA eligibility map. Eligible does not mean “rural farm only.” Plenty of towns and edge-of-metro pockets qualify. Plenty of dense city blocks do not. I will not pretend Phoenix, Mesa, or any other city is automatically in or out.
I serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, and Texas. We run the map for the state and county you are buying in.
Down payment, MI, and income
When the property and the borrower both fit, 0% down is the usual USDA purchase story. There is a guarantee fee structure (upfront and annual). Most people finance the upfront piece. I will not print a percent here that will be stale.
Household income limits apply. They vary by area and household size. We check yours against the property’s county — I will not print a chart that ages overnight.
Credit and occupancy
USDA itself is more flexible than a lot of people expect on credit, but the lender still has to like the rest of the picture. I will not print a score floor on this page. You live in the house. Not a rental. Not a vacation place.
Common questions
- Can this be a refinance?
- Yes, USDA has refinance paths when you already have a USDA loan or when another refinance box fits better. Talk to me — rate-and-term and cash-out are different tools (rate-and-term refinance, cash-out refinance).
- Is this the same as FHA?
- No. Different agency, different map, different income rules. FHA does not care about USDA’s rural map. See FHA.
- What if the map says no?
- We pick another box. You do not have to force USDA because you liked the “zero down” headline.
What I need from you
A target area or address so we can check the map, plus income, credit, and how you will use the house. Then we apply. You don’t have to research which program you are. Talk to me first if you want a second set of eyes on whether USDA is actually the right box.
Purchase, refinance, and most programs: Apply opens my Bevri application. Prefer to talk first? Use Talk to Michael. I’ll walk you through the program and the guidelines.