USDA Loan Requirements & Benefits
If you don't have a large down payment this loan may be for you - USDA loan requirements allow no money down and there are several areas in Gainesville that qualify. The 
program's official name is the "USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Housing Loan" program. They are generally referred to as "USDA loans", and are insured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There are some advantages as well as restrictions with USDA financing. We have outlined below the advantages as well as disadvantages and requirements to help you determine if a USDA loan is right for you.
Advantages of USDA Financing
100% financing. There is no down payment requirement - You can borrow the full purchase price of the home with a USDA loan. There is a funding fee of 1% that can be financed into the loan, on top of the purchase price. In addition, other items including closing costs can also be financed if the appraisal is high enough. For example, John and Leslie have a agreed to purchase a home for $100,000, but the home appraises for $103,000. USDA allows them to borrow $103,000 plus the 2% for the funding fee, using the $3000 to pay down consumer debt, pay closing costs, or purchase new furniture.
Seller can pay for closing costs. Under USDA loan requirements, the amount of closing costs the seller can pay for the buyer is limited to 6% of the purchase price. In our example, John and Leslie could ask their seller to pay $6000 toward buyer closing costs (6% of the $100,000 purchase price).
Credit Leniency. USDA loans sometimes allow for credit scores as low as 600 with good credit explanation. Alternative credit can be used for those without substantial credit. Landmark Mortgage Planners has even successfully processed USDA loans where the buyer is just 1 year out of bankruptcy, but has an excellent explanation and strong re-established credit.
Generous Debt Ratios. The housing ratio according to USDA loan requirements can be up to 29% of gross income. Total debt can be 41% of the buyer's gross income. If John and Leslie make $5000 each month, then they would be allowed a mortgage payment of $1450 (5000 x 29%), as long as their other debt exceed the total debt ratio. Our Landmark Mortgage Planners can help you determine if you qualify for a USDA loan, and compare other programs to determine the best option for you. We will also determine the maximum home price that you can be approved for and provide a pre-approval letter.
No reserves. Buyers are not required to have seasoned funds, bank statements or even bank accounts.
Not limited to 1st time buyers. The only restriction is that buyers using USDA financing cannot own a suitable property in the local commuting area.
No title seasoning. Many programs, like FHA, require that the seller of the property own the home for 3 to 6 months or longer. There are no title requirements for USDA loans.
Lowest Payment next to VA. Great rates are available through USDA Loans. They also offer 30 year fixed terms and less eligibility issues than VA or many other programs.