How do I know if a property is USDA-eligible?

Eligibility is based on mapped boundaries published by the USDA, not on a general sense of how rural an area looks. Many suburban-feeling neighbourhoods qualify while others a few miles away do not, and the maps are reviewed periodically. The reliable approach is to check the exact address before writing an offer. Send us the listing and we will look it up as part of the conversation.

Is there an income limit?

Yes. The USDA publishes maximum household income limits that vary by county and by household size, and the calculation counts income from adults living in the home even if they are not borrowers on the loan. Some deductions may apply depending on the household's makeup. Because the limits change and the math is specific, it is worth reviewing your numbers against the current limit for your county rather than assuming.

Is USDA only for first-time buyers?

No. There is no first-time buyer requirement. Repeat buyers can use the program as long as the property is eligible, the household income falls within the limit, and the home will be the borrower's primary residence. USDA is not intended for second homes or investment property.

Loan Types

USDA Home Mortgages

One of the last true no-down-payment programs, available in eligible rural and suburban communities across South Carolina.

Apply now Run the numbers

How USDA rural development loans work

The USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing program is backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and designed to encourage homeownership outside dense urban cores. Its defining feature is 100% financing: eligible buyers can purchase a primary residence without a down payment. The loan itself comes from a lender, and the USDA guarantee is what allows those terms to exist.

Eligibility works differently from most programs because it is tied to two things beyond the borrower's credit profile. First, the property has to sit inside a USDA-eligible area, which is determined by mapped boundaries rather than by how the neighbourhood feels. Second, total household income has to fall at or below the limit published for that county and household size, and that calculation includes income from adults in the home who are not on the loan. Both are worth checking early, before you fall in love with a listing.

USDA loans carry a guarantee fee in two parts: a one-time upfront fee that is typically financed into the loan, and a smaller annual fee collected monthly. Both are generally lower than FHA's comparable mortgage insurance premiums, which is a large part of why the program appeals to buyers who qualify. Eligible areas exist across South Carolina. Around our Midlands home base, examples include Gilbert, Swansea, Batesburg-Leesville, Elgin, and stretches around Lexington, but eligibility always depends on the exact address. We can check a specific property for you before you make an offer.

No down payment required for eligible buyers on a primary residence.
Eligibility depends on the property's mapped location and household income, not credit alone.
Upfront and annual guarantee fees apply, generally lower than FHA's mortgage insurance.
Eligible rural and suburban areas can be found throughout South Carolina, depending on the exact address.

Common questions

Ready to start your loan?

Talk to a local advisor today. No pressure, just answers.

Apply now