Texas USDA Loans
What are USDA Home Loans?
USDA stands for United States Department of Agriculture. A USDA Mortgage provides a low-cost insured home mortgage loan that suits a variety of options. A USDA mortgage is likely the best home loan option if you want to purchase a home with no down payment. If you're unsure about your credit rating, or have concerns about a down payment when you're doing a home loan comparison, USDA Rural Mortgage Loans can give you piece of mind with zero-down, super low closing costs and low monthly mortgage insurance.
What Types of Loans does USDA offer in Texas?
Currently, there are two kinds of USDA Home Loans available in Texas for single family households:
USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Loans
USDA Guaranteed Home Mortgage Loans are the most common type of USDA Loan in Texas and allow for higher income limits and 100% financing for home purchases. USDA Guaranteed Loan applicants may have an income of up to 115% of the median household income for the area. Area income limits for this program can be viewed here. All USDA Guaranteed Loans carry 30 year terms and are set at a fixed rate.
USDA Direct Rural Housing Loans
USDA Direct Housing Loans are less common than USDA Guaranteed Loans and are only available for very low income households to obtain homeownership, as defined by the USDA. 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 80 to 100 percent of AMI. Click here to see area income limits for this program.
How much money will I need for the down payment and closing costs?
USDA Rural Development Mortgage Loans require no down payment and they allow for the closing costs to be included in the loan amount (appraisal permitting).
What property types are allowed for USDA Rural Loan Mortgages?
While USDA Mortgage Guidelines do require that the property be Owner Occupied (OO), they do allow you to purchase condos, planned unit developments, manufactured homes, and single family residences.
What is Considered a Rural Area by the USDA?
Rural areas include open country and places with population of 10,000 or less and—under certain conditions—towns and cities. There is an automated rural area eligibility calculator for USDA home loans at: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov.
What is the Maximum Loan Amount for a USDA Loan?
There is no maximum loan amount for a USDA rural mortgage. However, it is limited by the appraised value and repayment ability (determined by your household income).What is the Maximum LTV for a USDA Loan?
The maximum USDA rural loan LTV can be up to 100% LTV plus the Agency guarantee fee.Can Closing Costs be Financed into the Loan?
Yes, any difference between the contract price and the appraisal value can be used to finance normal closing costs for a USDA mortgage. What is a USDA Loan Guarantee?
USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Program serves as a safety net for mortgage lenders. The USDA provides the full faith and assurance of the U.S. government that any financial loss resulting from servicing the loan will be reimbursed in full up to an amount not exceeding 90% of the original loan amount. All loss up to an amount not exceeding 35% of the original loan is fully reimbursed. This guarantee provides lenders an expanded level of protection against losses. The quality of this guarantee allows lenders to easily sell the loans on the secondary market.
