There are two types of Kentucky USDA Rural Housing Home loans available to rural Kentucky Home buyers through Rural Development:
Direct homeownership loans and guaranteed home ownership loans.
Let’s first look at the 502 Direct USDA Loan in Kentucky
502 Direct USDA Loan in Kentucky:
With a Kentucky Direct Loan 502, the applicant applies directly to the USDA office serving their location in Kentucky. There are about 13 different locations . They lend the money direct from USDA , 100 percent financing, for the low rate currently at 3 percent on a 33 year term.
For a direct home loan, the purchase, construction, repair and rehabilitation of a single family home in rural areas must be used for the applicant’s permanent residence. “For manufactured housing, only new construction can be funded,” he explained.
Credit scores of 640 or greater are typically acceptable with a minimum number of trade lines (2 usually for 12 months can be opened or closed) that have been open and active.
No down payment typically is required- Loans may be up to 100 percent of the appraised value. Homebuyer education is required prior to closing for the Direct USDA Loan 502 program
There are two types of Kentucky USDA Rural Housing Home loans available to rural Kentucky Home buyers through Rural Development:
Direct homeownership loans and guaranteed home ownership loans.
Let’s first look at the 502 Direct USDA Loan in Kentucky
502 Direct USDA Loan in Kentucky:
Rural Home Loans (Direct Program)
What does this
program do?
Also known as the Section
502 Direct Loan Program, this
program assists low- and
very-low-income applicants
obtain decent, safe, and sanitary
housing in eligible rural areas by
providing payment assistance
to increase an applicant’s
repayment ability. Payment
assistance is a type of subsidy
that reduces the mortgage
payment for a short time.
The amount of assistance is
determined by the adjusted
family income.
Who may apply for this program?
A number of factors are considered
when determining an applicant’s
eligibility for Single Family Direct Home
Loans. At a minimum, applicants
interested in obtaining a direct loan must
have an adjusted income that is at or
below the applicable low-income limit
for the area where they wish to buy a
house and they must demonstrate a
willingness and ability to repay debt.
Applicants must:
• Be without decent, safe, and
sanitary housing
• Be unable to obtain a loan from
other resources on terms and
conditions that can reasonably be
expected to meet
• Agree to occupy the property as
your primary residence
• Have the legal capacity to incur a
loan obligation
• Meet citizenship or eligible
noncitizen requirements
• Not be suspended or debarred from
participation in federal programs
Properties financed with direct loan
funds must:
• Be modest in size for the area
• Not have market value in excess of
the applicable area loan limit
• Not have in-ground swimming pools
• Not be designed for income
producing activities
Borrowers are required to repay all or a
portion of the payment subsidy received
over the life of the loan when the title to
the property transfers or the borrower is
no longer living in the dwelling.
Applicants must meet income eligibility
for a direct loan. Please contact your
local RD office to ask for additional
details about eligibility requirements.
What is an eligible area?
Generally, rural areas with a population
less than 35,000 are eligible. Visit the
USDA Income and Property eligibility
website for complete details.
How may funds be used?
Loan funds may be used to help
low-income individuals or households
purchase homes in rural areas. Funds
can be used to build, repair, renovate,
or relocate a home, or to purchase
and prepare sites, including providing
water and sewage facilities.
How much may I borrow?
The maximum loan amount an
applicant may qualify for will depend
on the applicant’s repayment ability.
The applicant’s ability to repay a loan
considers various factors such as
income, debts, assets, and the amount
of payment assistance applicants
may be eligible to receive. Regardless
of repayment ability, applicants may
never borrow more than the area loan
limit (plus certain costs allowed to be
financed) for the county in which the
property is located.
Rural Home Loans (Direct Program)
What is the interest rate and
payback period?
• Fixed interest rate based on current
market rates at loan approval or loan
closing, whichever is lower.
• The monthly mortgage payment,
when modified by payment
assistance, may be reduced to as
little as an effective 1% interest rate.
• Up to 33 year payback period – 38 year
payback period for very low income
applicants who can’t afford the 33 year
loan term.
How much down payment
is required?
No down payment is typically required.
Applicants with assets higher than the
asset limits may be required to use a
portion of those assets.
Is there a deadline to apply?
Applications for this program are
accepted through your local RD office
year round.
How long does an application take?
Processing times vary depending on
funding availability and program demand
in the area in which an applicant is
interested in buying and completeness
of the application package.
What governs this program?
• The Housing Act of 1949 as
amended, 7 CFR, Part 3550
• HB-1-3550 – Direct Single Family
Kentucky USDA Mortgage Lender for Rural Housing Loans 