QUICK GUIDE

USDA, RURAL DEVELOPMENT

GUARANTEED RURAL HOUSING LOAN  

Advantages:

• No Down Payment Required

• 30 year fixed rate

• 102% LTV (100% plus guarantee fee)

• Finance Closing Costs If Appraisal Is Higher Than Sales Contract

• No Mortgage Insurance

• No cash contribution required from borrower.

• Unrestricted gifts, no need to document source.

• No Maximum Loan Amount

• No Reserve Requirement

• High earnings potential.

• Competitive rates (set by underwriting lenders).

• Available secondary markets: wholesale lenders as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

• Delegated underwriting for D.E. FHA, Fannie, Freddie, and VA approved underwriters.

• Utilize in Conjunction with State Housing Authorities, if available.

Rural Development designated rural area:

• Homes must be located in rural areas.  Rural areas include open country and places with a population of 10,000 or less and-under certain conditions-towns and cities with between 10,000 and 25,000 residents.  There is an automated rural area eligibility calculator at http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov, click on “property eligibility”.  If you need additional assistance, please contact your local Rural Development office.

Acceptable credit history:

• Have a credit history that indicates a reasonable willingness to meet obligations as they become due

• Lender underwrites the loan

• Streamlined credit approval when primary applicant has a middle credit score above 620

• No minimum credit scores

• Lack of credit is not derogatory

• Caution for applicant(s) with multiple layers of risk such as:

  • payment shock; low credit scores; ratio waiver; credit waivers; 2-1 buy downs

Check maximum income for eligibility:

Applicant(s) have an adjusted household income that does not exceed the moderate income limit established for the area.  A family’s income includes the total gross income of the applicant, co-applicant and any other adults in the household.  Applicants may be eligible to make certain adjustments to gross income-such as annual child care expenses and $480 for each minor child-in order to qualify.  USDA Rural Development field offices can provide information on the moderate income limits for the areas that fall within their jurisdictions, and can provide further guidance on calculating household income.  There is an automated eligibility calculator at: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov

Applicant(s) repayment ability:

The ratio limits are 29 front (housing, PITI), 41 back (total debt, MOTI).  Rural Development allows expanded repayment ratios if the applicants have sufficient compensating factors. The underwriter must recommend the expanded ratio(s) and provide compensating factors to Rural Development.  Rural Development must concur with the underwriter’s recommendation in order to expand the ratios.

Other eligibility criteria:

• Do not own a dwelling

• Insufficient resources to secure conventional without the guarantee

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident or qualified alien

• Legal capacity

• Primary residence

Loan-To-Value (LTV) and Loan Limit:

• 100% LTV plus the amount of the guarantee if financed

• Loan amount can exceed appraised value by the amount of the guarantee fee

• There is no loan limit

 -Limiting factors will be ratios and income limit

Property requirements:

• New or proposed home construction:

Meet the county and state code. Use conventional appraisal (new homes only). 

• All existing homes: Meet requirements of HUD Handbooks 4905.1 and 4150.2 and comply with Rural Development thermal criteria.  Contact your local or state Rural Development office for alternatives to HUD Handbooks and the thermal criteria for a particular area.  Loan funds may be used for repairs.  Typically repairs must be completed prior to Rural Development issuance of the Loan Note Guarantee

• Both new and existing: Private well water quality must meet local and state code. 

FHA appraisers in the area can be found on the FHA web site: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/apprlook.cfm

Existing (previously occupied) manufactured home:  Cannot finance under this program.

New manufactured homes:  Rural Development will finance new manufactured homes through approved dealer-contractors.  Contact your local Rural Development office for a list of approved dealer-contractors and the specifics of how new manufactured homes can be financed.

Modular homes:  New or existing modular homes can be financed the same as stick built homes.

Condo:  Rural Development can finance if it meets the standards for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, or FHA.

Town home:  Same as condo.  A town home must have provisions for maintenance such as HOA.

Flood Zone:

Any existing improvements located in a special flood hazard area must have federal flood insurance coverage.  New construction is not permitted until a Letter of Map Revision/Amendment is issued by FEMA.  Check with your Rural Development local or state office for exceptions to financing existing homes when the first floor elevation is below the 100-year base flood elevation (BFE). 

One time guarantee fee of 2% of the final loan amount (it is only .5% on refinance of an existing Rural Development guaranteed or direct loan). 

This fee can be financed along with other closing costs.  The first mortgage guaranteed loan cannot exceed appraised value by more than the amount of the fee financed.  No mortgage insurance requirement.

Term: 30 year fixed

Interest Rate:

• Fannie Mae 90 day delivery plus 60 basis points or

• The lenders published VA rate with no discount points

Prohibited Loan Purposes:

• Co-signors not residing in the household

• In-ground swimming pools

• Existing manufactured homes

• Construction draws

• Furniture and personal property

• Income producing property

• Non-essential buildings and land

Additional resources:

•  www.rurdev.usda.gov is the Agency web site

• Individual state web site is www.rurdev.usda.gov/ga (for example Georgia, add the state initial)

• http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/ to determine eligible areas and if applicants are within eligibility guidelines 

• National directives are regulations are found at:  www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs.  Administrative Notices ending with (1980-D) and the regulation 1980-D.

THIS IS A QUICK GUIDE OF THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT GUARANTEED RURAL HOUSING PROGRAM.  FOR ADDITONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.