USDA Loan
USDA Loan
Loan Program

Zero down, outside the city.

Government-backed mortgages with up to 100% financing for eligible homes in USDA-approved rural and suburban areas — built for low-to-moderate income households who want to own outside the urban core without the down payment most programs require.

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The Fundamentals

A loan program defined by place.

A USDA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — created to make homeownership accessible in eligible rural and suburban areas that don’t fit the urban lending model. The USDA doesn’t lend directly. Instead, it guarantees loans made by approved private lenders, reducing their risk and allowing them to offer zero-down financing to qualified buyers.

Eligibility runs two ways. The property must sit within a USDA-designated rural or suburban area, checkable through the USDA eligibility map. The borrower must meet income limits for the county and household size — generally aimed at low-to-moderate income households. When both align, USDA is one of the most generous first-time buyer programs still in existence.

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Program Options

Three paths through USDA financing.

Purchase, refinance, or fast-track refi — each designed for a different USDA scenario.

Most Popular

USDA Purchase

Up to 100% financing for primary residences in USDA-eligible areas. Lower monthly mortgage insurance than FHA or low-down conventional. Fixed-rate terms with stable payments.

Existing USDA Loan

USDA Streamline Refinance

Refinance your existing USDA loan with limited documentation. No appraisal required in most cases. Reduce your rate or monthly payment without re-qualifying from scratch.

Fast-Track Refi

USDA Streamline-Assist

The simplest USDA refinance — no appraisal, no credit review, no income re-verification. For existing USDA loans 12+ months seasoned with clean payment history.

USDA loans require property eligibility (USDA-designated area) and borrower income eligibility (county and household-size dependent). Upfront guarantee fee and annual fee apply. All loans subject to credit, income, and underwriting approval — and lender program eligibility.
Why Lendmire

USDA done without the guesswork.

USDA loans turn on two questions — is the property eligible, and is the borrower eligible. Both answers are geographic, algorithmic, and rigid. Most borrowers don’t know their USDA eligibility until someone runs the map check and the income calculation — and most brokerages don’t bother until they’ve already committed you to paperwork.

We run USDA eligibility upfront. Property check first, then borrower income against the county and household-size caps. If USDA fits, we match you with a USDA-approved wholesale lender. If not, we pivot to the program that does — same conversation, no restart. From eligibility through closing, we treat USDA like what it is: a generous program with narrow doors, where knowing the door matters.

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Program Highlights

Built for rural homeownership.

$0 Down
Up to 100% financing — keep savings for moving costs, reserves, or furnishing. Closing costs can be financed if appraisal exceeds purchase price.
Lower Monthly Cost
USDA’s annual fee is lower than FHA mortgage insurance and conventional PMI. Paid monthly with the loan, plus an upfront guarantee fee — both set by USDA.
Rural + Suburban
USDA-eligible areas extend well beyond farmland. Many suburban and small-town communities qualify — check the USDA eligibility map.
Income-Based
Program is income-capped at the county level, adjusted for household size. Built for low-to-moderate income buyers underserved elsewhere.
Also Consider

Programs worth comparing.

If the home is outside a USDA-eligible area — or your income exceeds program limits — these alternatives may fit better.

First-Time Buyers

FHA Loan

3.5% down with flexible credit requirements. Available for homes anywhere — no rural eligibility required — and no household income cap.

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Military & Veterans

VA Loan

Zero down, no PMI, and great rates for eligible service members. No geographic restrictions or income limits.

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Down Payment Help

Down Payment Assistance

Grants and loans that cover your down payment on conventional or FHA programs — useful when USDA isn’t geographically available.

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Learning Center

Know before you borrow.

USDA loan guides, eligibility deep-dives, and rural homebuying strategies from our licensed loan officers.

Take the Next Step

Tools to move from reading to action.

Tool One

USDA calculator

Estimate your USDA payment with zero down — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and the annual guarantee fee.

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See your offer in seconds. No credit pull, no obligation.

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Browse programs

See every loan program Lendmire offers — from USDA to conventional to DSCR — and find the right fit.

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Get Started

Check your USDA eligibility in seconds.

See your offer in seconds. No credit pull, no obligation.

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