USDA Loan Eligibility
To be eligible for a USDA loan, applicants must meet the basic eligibility requirements set forth by the USDA, which cover credit, income, property usage and home location.
Each factor plays a significant role in meeting the USDA’s mission of providing safe and sanitary housing for low to moderate-income families.
At a minimum, USDA guidelines require:
Lenders may have their own internal guidelines and requirements in addition to those set by the USDA's Rural Development program.
Applicants must show stable and dependent income and a credit history that demonstrates the ability and willingness to repay the loan.
There is no minimum credit requirement for the USDA loan. However, applicants with a credit score of 640 or higher are eligible for the USDA’s automated underwriting system. Applicants below the 640 mark may still be eligible but are subject to manual underwriting, which can mean more stringent guidelines.
To determine creditworthiness, your lender will review items such as:
Applicants without established credit may still be eligible but typically require credit verification from alternate sources, such as rent, utility and insurance payments. Policies on this can vary by lender and other factors.
MORE: Learn more about USDA credit requirements.
The USDA looks at four different income calculations throughout the loan process in determining a borrower's income eligibility:
At a minimum, the USDA requires that applicants have a verifiable, stable income that is likely to continue. Lenders generally verify income by requesting two years of income tax returns and recent paystubs to look for consistent employment.
Annual household income is the total projected income of every adult member in the household. It's important to note that every adult occupant's income will count towards the household limit, regardless if they are part of the loan.
Adjusted annual income is calculated by subtracting acceptable deductions from your yearly income and is used to determine if you meet the program's income restrictions.
MORE: Learn more about income requirements for USDA loans.
The USDA sets a maximum on the adjusted annual income of a household at the time of the guarantee. The income limit ensures the USDA's intended recipients in the low to moderate-income group are the ones using the program.
The general USDA income limits for 2024 are:
To adjust for regional differences, USDA income limits vary by location and household size. The USDA has a base income limit set at 115% of the area's median household income and compares your total qualifying income to the regional median to determine eligibility.
MORE: See USDA income limits here.
There is a big difference between USDA qualifying income and repayment income. Qualifying income ensures borrowers meet income requirements, while repayment income reflects a borrower's ability to repay the loan.
Lenders assess an applicant's creditworthiness by calculating their debt-to-income ratio, or DTI. The USDA set a standard 41% DTI for USDA loans, which means borrowers spend no more than 41% of their monthly income on debts.
Getting a USDA loan with a DTI higher than 41% is possible, but having a higher DTI ratio can mean tougher lending requirements. Guidelines and policies can vary by lender.
MORE: Learn more about USDA income types.
The USDA designed its loan guarantee program to help those in rural areas purchase a residential home. Fortunately, the USDA's definition of rural is generous and many suburbs qualify.
The USDA defines rural areas as open country, not part of an urban area. Population requirements can also reach up to 35,000 depending on area designation.
The agency's broad definition makes approximately 97% of the nation's land eligible for a rural development loan, which includes an estimated 100 million people.*
The USDA loan’s goal is to provide safe and sanitary residences for low to moderate-income households. Through the USDA loan, eligible homebuyers can purchase, build or refinance a home.
To meet this goal, the USDA sets basic property requirements that protect homebuyers as well as lenders. A few of these property requirements include:
A final consideration is that the USDA loan cannot be used to purchase income-producing properties. However, if the property includes barns, silos, commercial greenhouses or livestock facilities that are no longer used for commercial operation, the property may still be eligible.
Other eligible property types include:
The USDA loan program has helped thousands of borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership and continues to be one of the best loan options on the market today.
*Reference: Housing Assistance Council Report
