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
Homebuyer Benefits for Kentucky Rural Housing Lenders
• No down payment required.
• Buy existing, build new, or refinance current Rural Development loan.
• Finance eligible loan costs up to 100% of the appraised value plus the one-time
upfront guarantee fee.
• Eligible loan costs may include: purchase price, repairs, lenders fees, closing costs,
essential household equipment.
• 30-year fixed rate that is negotiated between the applicant and lender.
• No maximum purchase price limits.
• Gift and grant funds allowed.
• Normal purchase contract time.
Why is the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program a top financing option for homebuyers?
USDA loans offer many advantages such as…
• No down payment so they can keep reserves in the bank for future unexpected costs.
• USDA offers the option to buy existing, build new, or refinance a current Rural Development
loan.
• Borrowers can finance eligible loan costs up to 100% of the appraised value plus the one-time
upfront guarantee fee.
• Eligible loan costs may include: purchase price, repairs, lenders fees, closing costs, essential
household equipment.
• 30-year fixed rate that is negotiated between the applicant and lender.
• No maximum purchase price limits. Maximum loan amount is determined solely by the
applicant’s repayment ability.
• Gift and grant funds allowed.
• Normal purchase contract time. No need to extend the contract time. Rural Development
typically issues a Conditional Commitment to the lender within 2-3 business days of receiving a complete application
The view and opinions stated on this website belong solely to the authors, and are intended for informational purposes only. The posted information does not guarantee approval, nor does it comprise full underwriting guidelines. This does not represent being part of a government agency. The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the view of my employer. Not all products or services mentioned on this site may fit all people.
Kentucky USDA loans are loans offered by the United States Department of Agriculture to those looking to buy homes in rural areas of Kentucky.
There are a few requirements and restrictions associated with this type of loan however, if you are afirst time home buyer in Kentucky with a limited income, no down payment and are looking to live in a rural part of Kentucky, this may be a good option for you to purchase a home going no money down and getting a 30 year fixed rate loan.
Income Requirements for USDA Loans in Kentucky
The Rural Housing USDA website provides an income eligibility calculatordepending on where you are looking for housing in the state of Kentucky. Because it is a nationally funded loan by the United States Government, the income restrictions will vary county-by-county but the loan recipient cannot make more than 115% of the median income for the area in which they are applying. There is also a chart you can consult that provides Kentucky USDA county income limits depending on the number of people in your home. Most Kentucky Counties will allow up to $90,200 for a household family of four or less, and up to $119,350 for a household of five. The Northern Kentucky Counties of Kenton, Bracken, Boone, Gallatin, Campbell allow for more. See Chart below
Households with 1-4 members have different limits as households with 5-8. Similarly, applicants living in high-cost counties will have a higher income limit than those living in counties with a more average cost of living.
Kentucky Score Requirements for a USDA Loan in Kentucky
Borrowers in Kentucky are required to have a FICO minimum credit score of 581 or higher. However, most USDA lenders will create a credit overlay where they will want a minimum credit score of 640 in order to get a GUS approval.
If the potential borrower has declared bankruptcy or foreclosure within the last 36 months, they would be ineligible for this type of loan.
If the mortgage was included in the Bankruptcy, sometimes the 36 month hold is ignored and you just have to make sure the property is out of your name before applying for a USDA loan
Can you get a USDA loan in Kentucky with a Previous Bankruptcy?
Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the bankruptcy must have been discharged at least 3 years prior to becoming eligible for a Kentucky USDA home loan.
Borrowers must be in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy for a minimum of 12 months, with documentation of 12 months of on time payments and a letter of authorization from the bankruptcy trustee authorizing you to enter into new debt.
In order to qualify for a USDA home loan after filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, additional documentation may be requested/required stating that the reason for the Chapter 13 filing was due to extenuating circumstances beyond the borrower’s control, temporary in nature and not likely to re-occur.
Home must be primary Residence.
Recipients must be U.S. Citizens, U.S. non-citizen nationals or Qualified Aliens to apply for this program. They must also agree to use the home as their primary residence and not as a rental property.
The property must be for a family including townhouses, single family homes, condominiums (FHA Approved), new construction or new mobile homes.
What areas of Kentucky Qualify for the USDA Loan Program?
The USDA provides a map of the where you can apply a USDA loans are eligible in Kentucky. The major metro areas of Jefferson County and Fayette County Kentucky are not eligible for Rural Housing Loans in Kentucky, along with some parts of Northern Kentucky next to Cincinnati; parts of Owensboro, Paducah, Bowling Green, Richmond, Frankfort, Winchester, Radcliff, Hopkinsville and Henderson Kentucky are not eligible.
If you have a property in mind, you can head over to the eligibility map to see if the home you are considering qualifies.
What are the advantages of USDA loans in Kentucky?
For many people in a low to middle-income bracket, saving for a down payment can be difficult. A USDA loan does not require the purchaser to put any money down toward the purchase price of a home. The government insures the loan in this case, should the borrower default, therefore the borrower is required to carry mortgage insurance during the life of the loan. The mortgage insurance for the USDA loan is provided at a more discounted rate than that required by traditional loans.
On USDA loans the mortgage insurance is 1% upfront, called a guarantee fee, and .35% monthly called an annual mortgage insurance fee to USDA. The beauty of USDA, is that it does not matter if you have a credit score of 640, or a credit score of 740, everyone pays the same premiums, unlike conventional loans.
They only offer 30 year fixed rates with no prepayment penalty, and usually the rates are very low and compare to FHA rates and much lower than conventional loans.
USDA loans take on average about 30 days to close, and the appraisal must meet FHA requirements. Home inspections are not required, and only new mobile homes are allowed on this home loan program.
If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation, or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for a loan, please contact us at 502-905-3708.
Disclaimer: No statement on this site is a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower qualifications, including income, property evaluation, sufficient equity in the home to meet Loan-to-Value requirements, and final credit approval. Approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines, interest rates, and program guidelines and are subject to change without notice based on applicant’s eligibility and market conditions. Refinancing an existing loan may result in total finance charges being higher over the life of a loan. Reduction in payments may reflect a longer loan term. Terms of any loan may be subject to payment of points and fees by the applicant Equal Opportunity Lender. NMLS#57916 http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/
— Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. The content in this marketing advertisement has not been approved, reviewed, sponsored or endorsed by any department or government agency. Rates are subject to change and are subject to borrower(s) qualification.
The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) is pleased to announce revisions to technical HB-1-3555, Chapter 11, Ratio Analysis. An advance copy of the proposed changes was made available on July 20, 2021. These changes became effective upon the recent issuance of a Procedure Notice (PN). Below are the highlighted revisions:
Chapter 11- Ratio Analysis
11.2 B. The Total Debt Ratio:
Student Loans: Removed the phrase “the greater of” from Non-Fixed payment loans and added guidance regarding “when the payment is above zero” and “when the payment is zero”.
Revolving accounts: “with no outstanding balance” are not required to be closed.
Mortgages: Rental Property – Eliminated language regarding omission of mortgage debt. Guidance for entry of rental income in GUS is provided in the GUS Lender User Guide under Section 4.1.4.1.1, Retained Investment Properties.
Added: Debt management plans:
Include the monthly payment amount due from the counseling plan.
Refer to Chapter 10 for guidance on credit exception and documentation requirements.
11.3 DEBT RATIO WAIVERS AND COMPENSATING FACTORS
A. Purchase Transactions: Debt Ratio Waivers
GUS Refer, Refer with Caution, and manually underwritten loans without GUS assistance:
Added: “The lender must document eligible compensating factors to support a debt ratio waiver.”
Added: “all” of the following conditions are met to the first paragraph.
Debt Ratio Waiver Request and Agency Approval:
Added: “The issuance of the Conditional Commitment for a Loan Note Guarantee represents Agency approval of the ratio waiver.”
B. Refinance Transactions: Debt Ratio Waivers
Added a bullet: GUS files that receive a GUS recommendation of Refer, Refer with Caution, or are not supported by GUS, require debt ratio waivers, and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Agency.
Added: “The issuance of the Conditional Commitment for a Loan Note Guarantee represents Agency approval of the ratio waiver”.
11.7 OBLIGATIONS NOT INCLUDED IN DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIOS
Added: “unless a payment plan is in place” to the second bullet concerning Federal, state, and local taxes.
Fiscal Year 2022 Conditional Commitment NoticeWith the start of Fiscal Year 2022 (FY) soon approaching, please take a few minutes to review the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) Conditional Commitment process. We hope you find this information helpful.FY 2022 will begin October 1, 2021 and ends at the close of business September 30, 2022.Fee Structures:An upfront guarantee fee of 1.00 percent and an annual fee of .35 percent will apply to both purchase and refinance transactions for FY 2022.Issuance of Conditional Commitments:At the beginning of each fiscal year, funding for the guaranteed loan program is not available for a short period of time – approximately two weeks. USDA anticipates this brief lapse in funding to continue for FY 2022. During the temporary lapse in funding, Rural Development – Rural Housing Service (RHS) will issue Conditional Commitments (Form RD 3555-18/18E) “subject to the availability of commitment authority” for purchase and refinance transactions. The issued Conditional Commitment will include the following:“Funds are not presently available for this Conditional Commitment. The Rural Development-Rural Housing Service (RHS) obligation under this Conditional Commitment is contingent upon the availability of an appropriation from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part ofRHS for any payment on this Conditional Commitment may arise until funds are made available to RHS for this Conditional Commitment and until the Lender receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by RHS. More specifically, this Conditional Commitment is subject to RHS receiving sufficient funds (in the Program Funds Control System for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program for the Type of Assistance and State of application submission) to fund this and all prior eligible outstanding applications in their entirety in the time and date order received. When such funds become available, RHS will notify the lender, and the guarantee process will continue subject to all applicable Agency regulations and conditions set forth in this Conditional Commitment. RHS will not reserve loan funds for applications in process during this timeframe. Lenders may close the loan as scheduled. The lender will assume all risk of loss for the loan until RHS obligates funds and the Loan Note Guarantee is subsequently issued. When the lender requests the Loan Note Guarantee, the lender must certify to the Agency, using the process provided in this commitment, that there have been no adverse changes to the borrower’s financial condition since the date the Conditional Commitment was issued by the Agency. The lender will submit the appropriate guarantee fee at the time they request the Loan Note Guarantee. The loan will be subject to an annual fee of 0.35 percent over the average scheduled unpaid principal balance of the loan. The Agency will not be able to issue the Loan Note Guarantee until these conditions are met and funding is obligated.”The application processing workflow is as follows:Rural Development will continue to accept complete guaranteed loan applications for purchase and refinance loan transactions from approved lenders;Rural Development will process, approve, and issue Conditional Commitments for those applications that are eligible “subject to the availability of commitment authority”;Lenders may close loans as scheduled;When funds become available, Rural Development will utilize the Electronic Customer File (ECF) system to advance the file to “Obligate Application” for Conditional Commitments that were issued for loans subject to the availability of commitment authority;Once loans are obligated, Rural Development may process lender’s Loan Note Guarantee requests when the loan closing is verified, and all conditions of the Conditional Commitment are satisfied;Lenders assume all loss default risk for the loan until Rural Development is able to obligate the loan and issue the Loan Note Guarantee. Thank you for your participation in the USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Program. We look forward to serving you in FY 2022!
Fiscal Year 2022 Conditional Commitment NoticeWith the start of Fiscal Year 2022 (FY) soon approaching, please take a few minutes to review the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) Conditional Commitment process. We hope you find this information helpful.FY 2022 will begin October 1, 2021 and ends at the close of business September 30, 2022.Fee Structures:An upfront guarantee fee of 1.00 percent and an annual fee of .35 percent will apply to both purchase and refinance transactions for FY 2022.Issuance of Conditional Commitments:At the beginning of each fiscal year, funding for the guaranteed loan program is not available for a short period of time – approximately two weeks. USDA anticipates this brief lapse in funding to continue for FY 2022. During the temporary lapse in funding, Rural Development – Rural Housing Service (RHS) will issue Conditional Commitments (Form RD 3555-18/18E) “subject to the availability of commitment authority” for purchase and refinance transactions. The issued Conditional Commitment will include the following:“Funds are not presently available for this Conditional Commitment. The Rural Development-Rural Housing Service (RHS) obligation under this Conditional Commitment is contingent upon the availability of an appropriation from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part ofRHS for any payment on this Conditional Commitment may arise until funds are made available to RHS for this Conditional Commitment and until the Lender receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by RHS. More specifically, this Conditional Commitment is subject to RHS receiving sufficient funds (in the Program Funds Control System for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program for the Type of Assistance and State of application submission) to fund this and all prior eligible outstanding applications in their entirety in the time and date order received. When such funds become available, RHS will notify the lender, and the guarantee process will continue subject to all applicable Agency regulations and conditions set forth in this Conditional Commitment. RHS will not reserve loan funds for applications in process during this timeframe. Lenders may close the loan as scheduled. The lender will assume all risk of loss for the loan until RHS obligates funds and the Loan Note Guarantee is subsequently issued. When the lender requests the Loan Note Guarantee, the lender must certify to the Agency, using the process provided in this commitment, that there have been no adverse changes to the borrower’s financial condition since the date the Conditional Commitment was issued by the Agency. The lender will submit the appropriate guarantee fee at the time they request the Loan Note Guarantee. The loan will be subject to an annual fee of 0.35 percent over the average scheduled unpaid principal balance of the loan. The Agency will not be able to issue the Loan Note Guarantee until these conditions are met and funding is obligated.”The application processing workflow is as follows:Rural Development will continue to accept complete guaranteed loan applications for purchase and refinance loan transactions from approved lenders;Rural Development will process, approve, and issue Conditional Commitments for those applications that are eligible “subject to the availability of commitment authority”;Lenders may close loans as scheduled;When funds become available, Rural Development will utilize the Electronic Customer File (ECF) system to advance the file to “Obligate Application” for Conditional Commitments that were issued for loans subject to the availability of commitment authority;Once loans are obligated, Rural Development may process lender’s Loan Note Guarantee requests when the loan closing is verified, and all conditions of the Conditional Commitment are satisfied;Lenders assume all loss default risk for the loan until Rural Development is able to obligate the loan and issue the Loan Note Guarantee. Thank you for your participation in the USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Program. We look forward to serving you in FY 2022!
620+ MIN FICO– REFERS AND GUS ACCEPTS!
Kentucky USDA Mortgage Lender for Rural Housing Loans 