Rural Housing Loans

General Loan Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, applicants must have very low-, low- or moderate incomes. Very low-income is defined as below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI); low-income is between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; moderate income is below 115 percent of AMI. Families must be without adequate housing, but able to afford the housing payments, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI). Qualifying repayment ratios are 29 percent for PITI to 41 percent for total debt. In addition, applicants must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere, yet have an acceptable credit history. You must also be a US citizen or permanent resident.

Loan Program Description
Direct and guaranteed loans may be used to buy, build, or improve the applicant's permanent residence. New manufactured homes may be financed when they are on a permanent site, purchased from an approved dealer or contractor, and meet certain other requirements. Under very limited circumstances, homes may be re-financed with direct loans. Dwellings financed must be modest, decent, safe, and sanitary. The value of a home financed with a direct loan may not exceed the area limit. The property must be located in an eligible rural area. Assistance is available in the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana's, and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. Direct loans are made at the interest rate specified in RD Instruction 440.1, Exhibit B (available at any Rural Development local office).

Guaranteed loans may be made to refinance either existing RHS Guaranteed Housing loans or RHS Section 502 Direct Housing loans. The interest rate is negotiated with the lender.

Loan Terms
Direct are repaid over 33 years or 38 years for applicants whose adjusted annual income does not exceed 60 percent of the area median income, if necessary to show repayment ability. Payment assistance is granted on direct loans to reduce the installment to an "effective interest rate" as low as one percent, depending on adjusted family income. Payment assistance is subject to recapture by the government when the customer no longer resides in the dwelling. There is no funding provided for deferred mortgage authority or loans for deferred mortgage assumptions.

Guaranteed loans are amortized over 30 years.

Loan Application Process

For Direct Loans applicants can obtain and submit the following forms via the Internet at http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov :

Form RD 410-4, "Application for Rural Housing Assistance (Nonfarm Tract), Uniform Residential Loan Application"
Form RD 3550-1, "Authorization to Release Information" (copies for each adult household member);

For further information about the application process or to request that the Agency mail an application or can obtain one in person at any Field Office.

For Guaranteed Loans applicants should contact a Rural Development approved lender to apply for a guaranteed loan.

Approved lenders under the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan program include:

• Any State housing agency;
  
• Lenders approved by:
  
• HUD for submission of applications for Federal Housing Mortgage Insurance or as an issuer of Ginnie Mae mortgage backed securities;
  
• the U.S. Veterans Administration as a qualified mortgagee;
  
• Fannie Mae for participation in family mortgage loans;
  
• Freddie Mac for participation in family mortgage loans;
  
• Any FCS (Farm Credit System) institution with direct lending authority;
  
• Any lender participating in other USDA Rural Development and/or Consolidated Farm Service Agency guaranteed loan programs.

  Interested applicants should contact their local USDA Rural Development field office for more information.
  
  All applications for loans and grants are handled at the local level. For help with an application, contact your Rural Development office at:
  Phone: 202-720-4323
  
  

  Loan Managing Agency
  U.S. Department of Agriculture