I am a Kentucky based USDA Mortgage Lender that has originated over 300 KY Rural Housing Mortgage Loans in Kentucky-CALL OR TEXT 502-905-3708 FOR USDA MORTGAGE LOAN
Minimal credit score requirements – NO minimum score
Low monthly mortgage insurance
Home must be located in an eligible area
Home must meet property eligibility requirements
Fill out worksheet to get additional information about qualifying
Must be a regular stick-built home
Single Close Construction Program available
USDA to USDA Streamline Refinances available
SFH Direct Loan and Grant Programs
February 7, 2022
Fee Increases for Origination Appraisals and Conditional Commitments
An Unnumbered Letter (UL) dated February 4, 2022, has been issued which increases the appraisal fee to $750 and the conditional commitment fee to $825 under the direct programs. The fee increases are effective March 6, 2022. The increased fees reflect market price increases for origination appraisals in rural areas and the average cost of appraisals under the programs’ nationwide contract with the Appraisal Management Companies.
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
Mortgage payments are based on what the applicant can afford to pay. USDA offers payment assistance/subsidies to make it affordable. When you go to payoff the USDA Direct loan, you may incur a subsidy recapture fee.
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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
The USDA Loan assumes a very conservative perspective on financing homeowners who already own a home, unless the borrower can prove that the current home is not “adequate or suitable” for the borrower’s needs. Owning a house can be defined as not only being on the mortgage loan but also being on title to the property without being on the mortgage loan for that property. Factors that can determine when a house is not “adequate or suitable” include the following:
Household size change in which the borrower’s family size now exceeds the room count of the current house. The assumption being made here is that there is more than 1.5 household residents per room. The room count generally includes a living room, dining room, kitchen, recreation room, and bedroom(s). Room counts do not include bathrooms, hallways, or foyers.
In the case of divorce where the borrower remains on the mortgage loan, but the Courts have awarded the house to the ex-spouse.
Job transfer in which the borrower has relocated more than 50 miles away from the current residence.
Manufactured houses (i.e. doublewides) not on a permanent foundation.
The current house is not suitable due to documentable health and safety related issue, which includes the disability or limited mobility of a household resident that cannot be accommodated without substantial retrofitting of the current house.
Under no circumstances will the borrower be able to obtain another USDA Loan if the existing home is already financed using a USDA Loan. When qualifying for a USDA Loan and the borrower already owns another house, the costs associated with the current house, including the mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowner insurance, condo or Homeowner Association Fees, and lot rent in the case of a manufactured home, will be considered a liability to the borrower when calculating their debt-to-income ratio.
If the borrower has two years of rental history, as documented on their tax returns, the mortgage liability can be offset by the rental income. Also, in the case of a court ordered divorce settlement where the borrower can document 12 months of on-time mortgage payments being made by their ex-spouse, the liability can be excluded.
On the top left hand side, click “Single Family Housing Guaranteed”
Click “Accept”
Enter the property address to determine if a specific house or general area is located in an USDA eligible area
The household income must be moderate as determined by USDA. The USDA Loan evaluates household income, which includes the combined income of all adults living in the household; even if they are not on the mortgage loan. Click here to determine your household income eligibility.
If it appears that the household income exceeds the moderate income thresholds established by USDA, do not throw in the towel just yet. USDA allows for deductions for child care and medical expenses as well as for children, students, and elderly members of the household that will be living in the USDA financed property.
This is not a farmer’s loan. As a matter of fact, the property cannot have any income producing capabilities, and when the land value of the property exceeds 30% of the appraised value additional requirements must be met.
The house has to be in fairly good condition. The appraisal type being utilized is an FHA appraisal, so make sure that there are not any safety related challenges(i.e. missing banisters, peeling paint, exposed electric).
This is a true no money down loan program. Or stated differently, you do not need a down payment.
While there is a monthly mortgage insurance premium (or prorated portion of an Annual Fee), the cost of the monthly mortgage insurance is 59% less than a comparable FHA Loan. This makes the USDA loan more affordable than an FHA Loan when analyzing down payment requirements and monthly mortgage payments.
The seller can pay all closing costs and pre-paids (i.e. escrows). Often the home buyer’s only out-of-pocket cost as part of the purchase transaction is approximately $550 for the appraisal report.
If the house appraises for more than the purchase price, the difference can be used to pay for closing costs and pre-paids (i.e. escrows). Only the USDA Loan program allows for closing costs to be rolled on top of the purchase price.
USDA has no restriction on whether you are a first time home buyer or move-up home buyer.
This loan program is only for primary residence (i.e. no second home or investment properties).
You should not own any other functional property; although there are some circumstances under which USDA may waive this requirement.
The preferred minimum credit score is 640. However, if you have a documented rent history, no late payments on your credit cards, and no new collections within the last 12 months, a credit score as low as 620 may be considered.
All property types including single family homes, town homes, modular, and even condominiums qualify for this loan program. Manufacture homes such as single and doublewides constructed prior to January 1, 2006 do not qualify.
There is no maximum mortgage amount, but the house does have to be considered moderate in a size
Key reminders for income calculations:
• Look at the date of employment, date the recent pay stub pays through, and the VOE.
• Look for overtime, bonus, commission, or any additional income that should be counted and count it.
• Make sure you are calculating your days correctly when averaging the income.
• If there has been a recent increase in salary or hourly rate, use the higher salary or hourly rate when calculating the Annual Household Income.
• #1 Reminder: Document your process. USDA reviewers look for Underwriter notes and any sort of explanation. It helps them to review a file faster if they don’t have to recreate what has already been done.
Q. The applicant has a history of overtime, with a substantial amount received year to date; however, the VOE states the overtime is unlikely to continue. Do I need to include overtime in the annual income calculation?
A. Annual income is calculated based on what is expected to be received in the ensuing 12 months. If there is a history of overtime, it would need to be considered by the underwriter when calculating annual
income. Ultimately it is the approved lender’s responsibility to review the complete income history to determine what is expected to be received in the ensuing 12 months and to document the permanent loan file
to support their lending decisions.
Q. Does the IRS child tax credit need to be included in the annual income calculation?
A. No, tax credits, including the Child Tax Credit are not included in the Annual income calculation.
Q. Is per diem considered in annual income calculations?
A. If the per diem is taxable income, then it must be included in annual income. If the per diem is non-taxable income, it is considered reimbursement and therefore not included in annual income.
Q. The VOE states the applicant is expected to receive a 3% pay raise within the next 3 months. Do we have to count this expected increase in annual income?
A. Annual income is calculated based on what is expected to be received in the ensuing 12 months, including bonus income, projected pay raises, etc. If a pay raise is expected within the next 12 months, it would need to be included in the annual income calculation.
Q. We have a borrower that is divorced and has joint custody of a child that is only claimed on the tax returns as a dependent every other tax year. Can we consider this child a household member for the calculation of family size and income eligibility?
A. Applicants with shared custody may include their children as household members and receive the $480 per
child deduction.
Annual household income for Kentucky USDA Loans
All files must include an income calculation worksheet. Lenders may document their income calculations on their own in-house income worksheet
Defines Annual Income as: Income from all household members who live or propose to live in the dwelling as their primary residence for all or part of the ensuing 12 months. Adjusted annual income is used to determine whether an applicant is income-eligible for a guaranteed loan, or interest assistance, if applicable.
Adjusted annual income provides for deductions to account for varying household circumstances and expenses.
Kentucky USDA Mortgage Lender for Rural Housing Loans 