Very Low to Moderate Income Housing Loans and Loan Guarantees

To assist very low, low-income, and moderate-income households to obtain modest, decent, safe, and sanitary housing for use as a permanent residence in rural areas.

Applicants must have very low-, low- or moderate incomes. Families must be able to afford housing payments, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance and have an acceptable credit history. Please visit Agency eligibility website at: https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do.

Applicants must meet eligibility requirements.

Applicants, or lenders in the Guaranteed program, will need to submit evidence of income, debts, and other information on the application and property (e.g. plans, specifications, and cost estimates).

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 and meet certain other requirements. Under very limited circumstances, homes may be re-financed . Dwellings financed must be modest, decent, safe, and sanitary. The value of a home financed with a direct loan may not exceed the area loan 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.

For both the Guaranteed and Direct programs, assistance is available throughout the year. For the Direct program, funds may be disbursed at loan closing or deposited in a supervised bank account for purchase of a building site, and purchase or repair of a dwelling, or in multiple advances for construction.

For direct loans, application is made at the Rural Development field office serving the county where the dwelling is or will be located. For guaranteed loans, application is made to a participating private lender found online here-https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/RDGRH-AllStatesList.pdf.

Rural Development field offices have authority to approve direct loan requests. Please visit the website for direct loan State Contact at- https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices for a State Office listing. An approved guaranteed lenders can be found at -https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/sfh-guaranteed-lender.

For direct loans, processing times vary by State. For guarantees, a decision is required within 3 days of loan package submission by the approved lender.

Applicants may reapply at any time.

Agency regulations providing customers with the rights for an informal review, mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR), or appeal to the National Appeals Division (NAD). NAD regulations are found at 7 CFR Part 11. Requests for an informal review, mediation and ADR must be received within 30 days from the date of the adverse decision. Requests for an appeal to NAD must be received within 30 days of receipt of the adverse decision. Please visit: https://www.nad.usda.gov/.