If having a little land and a decent home outside of the city is a priority for you, a USDA loan may be your road to rural living. USDA mortgages finance the purchase of residential properties outside of urban areas, often with no money down.

What does it take to qualify, and how do USDA loans work? Yahoo Finance has the latest details.

Read more: How to buy a house in 2024

What are USDA loans?

To encourage strong communities and affordable housing, the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program guarantees loans for approved lenders. USDA mortgages are issued to low- and moderate-income households in qualifying rural areas. You do not have to be a first-time home buyer to qualify.

USDA home loans offer 0% down-payment financing and flexible credit terms within household income limits.

Read more: How much house can I afford?

How a USDA loan works

For the purchase of a primary residence, USDA offers two loan programs: Guaranteed Loans and Direct Home Loans.

A USDA Guaranteed Loan

USDA Single Family Guaranteed Loans are available through approved private lenders, such as banks, credit unions, or mortgage companies. Because the USDA guarantees a portion of the loan, mortgage lenders can offer these loans with no down payment required.

The program is tailored for low- to moderate-income households earning no more than 115% of the local median household income.

Learn more: Truist mortgage review

A USDA Direct Loan

USDA Single Family Direct Home Loans are for very low- and low-income borrowers and provide payment assistance to households with income at or below the local low-income limit. The loans are issued directly by the USDA rather than through traditional lenders. Loan applications are made through USDA state offices.

Tip: When it comes to strategies to get the lowest mortgage rates, USDA Direct Home Loans stand apart. After factoring in payment assistance, your interest rate can fall as low as 1%.

Read more: What to know about a first-time home buyer tax credit in 2024

How to qualify for a USDA home loan

Specific loan requirements vary by lender, but generally, USDA loans require a borrower to:

• Qualify within the local income limits.

• Use the property as a primary residence.

• Buy a property in an eligible area.

• Qualify for a monthly mortgage payment that is no more than 29% of a borrower's gross monthly income.

USDA loans do not have a minimum credit score qualification, though borrowers must "demonstrate a willingness and ability to handle and manage debt." However, private lenders issuing the mortgages may have additional eligibility requirements, often including a minimum credit score of 580.

Read more: Debt-to-income ratio — Why it matters and how to calculate it

The USDA guarantee fee

To defray the cost of the guarantee provided to lenders, the USDA charges mortgage lenders a fee, which may be passed on to the borrower. The guarantee fee is essentially a form of USDA mortgage insurance. There is a one-time fee paid as a part of closing costs that is a percentage of the total loan amount — and an ongoing annual fee that lasts the life of the loan.

Read more: What is mortgage insurance, and how much does it cost?

Pros and cons of USDA loans

Pros

• In most cases, no down payment is required.

• Payment assistance can be provided to low-income borrowers.

Cons

• Has an upfront and ongoing guarantee fee.

• No option to use an adjustable-rate mortgage.

• You may not qualify if your income is over acceptable limits.