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USDA rural home loans

The USDA eligibility map: checking whether a home qualifies

A USDA guaranteed loan can finance 100 percent of the price, but only for homes in eligible areas. The official map answers that question in a minute, and you should ask it before every showing.

Reviewed November 2026 · Written for Buy Home Tips from the sources listed below

USDA Rural Development's Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program helps lenders make 100 percent financed home loans to eligible low- and moderate-income buyers in eligible rural areas. The program guarantees 90 percent of the loan for the lender. Location comes first: a home outside an eligible area cannot use the program, however well the household qualifies.

USDA guaranteed loan basicsFinancing of the price, up to100%Lender loss covered by guarantee90%Upfront fee cap3.5%Annual fee cap0.5%
USDA guaranteed loan basics. From USDA Rural Development and 7 CFR part 3555; maximums shown, fees can be lower

Using the official tool

USDA's income and property eligibility site has separate tools for property and income. For a home you are considering:

  1. Open the site and choose property eligibility.
  2. Select the single family housing guaranteed program.
  3. Enter the full street address, or click the location on the map.
  4. Read the result. An address in an eligible area is marked as eligible; ineligible areas are shaded on the map.

Save the result with the date. If the address does not match, try the property's tax parcel address or ask the listing agent for the exact address used by the county.

What the map decides, and what it does not

The map answers one question: is the property in an area where the guaranteed program can be used? It does not decide:

  • Household income. Your household's adjusted income must not exceed the program's moderate income limit for the area. The same site has an income tool.
  • Occupancy. You must agree to occupy the home as your principal residence. USDA will not guarantee loans for investment properties.
  • The home itself. Federal rules require the dwelling to be modest, decent, safe and sanitary.
  • Your credit and repayment ability. The lender reviews these, and the rules in 7 CFR 3555.151 set the agency's repayment ratio tests.
  • Citizenship status. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. non-citizen nationals or qualified aliens.

Fees that come with the program

USDA charges an upfront guarantee fee and an annual fee. Federal rules cap the upfront fee at 3.5 percent and the annual fee at 0.5 percent; the agency sets the actual rates, which can be lower. Your Loan Estimate will show the amounts that apply to your loan.

When the map changes

USDA reviews eligible areas periodically. If you are shopping near a boundary, check each address again when you write an offer, and ask your lender how it handles a map change for a loan already in process.

Talk to a lender early

USDA guaranteed loans are made by approved lenders. Ask lenders whether they offer the program and how often they close USDA loans. A lender experienced with the program can tell you quickly whether your household and the property are likely to fit.

Keep a record

Save the eligibility result for each address you seriously consider, with the date you checked. If a question comes up later about when the area was eligible, your lender will want the official result, and a dated screenshot helps you raise it quickly.

Mini calculator: your income against the USDA limit

Look up the guaranteed-loan income limit for your county and household size on USDA’s eligibility site, then compare it with your household income.

Enter your figures to see the result. Nothing you type leaves this page.

The default limit is only a placeholder. Use the figure the USDA eligibility site shows for your county.

Map check before each showing

  • Open USDA's eligibility site and choose single family housing guaranteed property eligibility.
  • Enter the full street address, not just the town.
  • Note whether the result says eligible or ineligible, and save a screenshot with the date.
  • Check household income eligibility with the same site.
  • Confirm with a USDA-approved lender before writing an offer.

Questions buyers ask

How do I know if a property is USDA eligible?

Use USDA's income and property eligibility site and enter the address under the single family housing guaranteed program. It will tell you whether the property is in an eligible area.

Are USDA loans only for farms?

No. The guaranteed loan is for a modest home used as your primary residence in an eligible rural area. Many eligible areas are small towns and areas on the edge of larger cities.

Can the eligibility map change?

Yes. USDA reviews eligible areas from time to time, so check the address when you write an offer, not months earlier, and ask your lender how a change would affect a loan in process.

If the property is eligible, am I approved?

No. Your household income must also be within the limit for your area, you must meet the citizenship and occupancy rules, and a lender must approve your credit and repayment ability.

Sources checked for this page

Checked November 2026. Programs and limits change; confirm with the source before you rely on a figure.

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