USDA Loans
USDA Rural Housing Loans in Delaware and Pennsylvania
Two tests decide a USDA file: where the house sits and what the household earns. Clear both and you can buy with nothing down.
The USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing program is not a loan from the government. It is a conventional style loan made by a lender and backed by a guarantee from the Department of Agriculture, which is what lets the lender finance 100% of the purchase price. Qualification runs through two filters that have nothing to do with each other. First, the property has to sit inside a USDA eligible census tract. Second, total household income has to land at or under the published limit for that county and household size. Clear both and the loan behaves much like any other 30 year fixed, with a modest upfront guarantee fee rolled into the balance and a small annual fee spread across the monthly payment. Large parts of southern Delaware and central Pennsylvania fall inside the eligible map even where the surrounding area is clearly suburban.
Who it's for
- Buyers purchasing a primary residence at a USDA eligible Delaware or Pennsylvania address
- Household income at or below the county limit for your household size, counting non borrowing adults
- Credit typically 620 and up, though manual underwrites happen below that with compensating factors
- Buyers with little or no down payment saved but steady documented employment
- Owner occupants only. Second homes and rentals are outside the program entirely
Why choose this loan type
- True 100% financing, so cash stays available for moving costs and repairs
- The annual guarantee fee is materially cheaper than FHA mortgage insurance on the same balance
- Closing costs can be gifted, seller paid, or financed when the appraisal supports value above the contract price
- Fixed 30 year terms only, which removes rate adjustment risk from a program aimed at tight budgets
Frequently asked
Which parts of Delaware and Pennsylvania are USDA eligible?+
More than most buyers expect. Much of Kent and Sussex County in Delaware qualifies, along with wide stretches of Lancaster, Chester, Berks, and the northern tier counties in Pennsylvania. Eligibility is drawn by census tract, not by how rural a town feels, so we pull the map for the exact address rather than guessing by zip code.
How does the USDA income limit work if my spouse also works?+
USDA counts total household income, including adults in the home who are not on the loan. That figure is compared against a county limit based on household size. It is a different test from the debt to income ratio used to qualify you, so a household can pass one and fail the other.
What are the USDA guarantee fees?+
There is an upfront guarantee fee that is typically financed into the loan and a smaller annual fee collected monthly. The annual fee runs well below comparable FHA mortgage insurance, which is a large part of why USDA payments come in low.
See if the address qualifies
Send the property address and household size. We'll confirm the map, run the income limit, and show the payment side by side against FHA.
Related loan programs
- FHA loans when the income limit or map blocks USDA
Same low barrier borrower profile, no geographic restriction, slightly higher monthly insurance cost.
- First-time buyer assistance that pairs with USDA
State down payment and closing cost programs frequently layer on top of a USDA guarantee.
Contact
Talk to Our Team Directly
No call centers, no runaround. Reach out and get real answers on what you qualify for before you fall in love with a house.
Phone
302-600-3197Hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm · Sat by appointment
Serving
Delaware · Pennsylvania · Maryland · New Jersey