USDA Loan

USDA Loan

A USDA loan is special type of a zero down payment mortgage that eligible homebuyers in rural and suburban areas can get through the USDA Loan Program, which is backed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA backs a variety of loans to help low- or moderate-income people buy, repair or renovate a home in a rural area. For eligible buyers, they feature great benefits such as 100% financing with no down payment and below-market mortgage rates.

There are several types of USDA home loans: The single family direct homeownership loan, the single family guaranteed homeownership loan, the rural repair and rehabilitation loan or grant and the mutual self-help loan. This guide will help you figure out what these loans are and whether you qualify.

Though the terms and details of these loans differ, all of these USDA loans offer very low effective interest rates (some are as low as 1 percent) and don’t require a cash down payment. To qualify, you need to have a decent credit history. Not all properties qualify for USDA loans, so be sure to visit the USDA website to see if you qualify.

Conventional loans are popular among home buyers, but they come in more than one flavor. Each type of conventional loan has its own costs and qualification requirements.