What are the USDA loan requirements?

To decide if you meet today’s USDA loan eligibility requirements, the following factors will be looked at:

• Your income and your monthly expenses. Standard debt-to-income ratios are 29/41 for USDA Loans. These ratios may be exceeded with compensation factors.
• Your credit history (this is important, but USDA’s credit standards are flexible). A FICO score of 620 or above is required for all borrowers through most lenders.
• Your overall pattern rather than to individual problems you may have had.

To be eligible for USDA mortgage guidelines, it’s important to ask yourself “how much mortgage can I afford“.  For starters, your monthly housing costs (mortgage principal and interest, property taxes and insurance) must meet a specified percentage of your gross monthly income (29% ratio).  You must also have enough income to pay your new housing costs plus all additional monthly debt (41% ratio). These percentages may be exceeded with compensating factors.  Your credit background will be considered. At least a 620 FICO credit score is usually required to get a USDA approval through most of our lenders.  Applicants for loans may have an income of up to 115% of the median income for the area the home is located in.  Maximum USDA Loan income limits by Colorado county can be found on our website. Families must be without adequate housing, but be able to afford the mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance.