USDA Eligibility Guide
“Find out if you’re eligible for a USDA home loan with Smart Mortgage!”
Alachua, FL USDA Loan Eligibility Guide
1. Property Eligibility:
-
- The home must be located in a USDA-eligible rural or suburban area around Alachua, FL. The USDA provides an online tool to help potential borrowers determine if a specific property is in an eligible area.
- The property must be used as the borrower’s primary residence.
- The home must meet all local codes and program regulations.
2. Applicant/Household Eligibility:
-
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.
- The borrower must be unable to obtain a loan from other resources on terms and conditions that can reasonably be expected to meet.
- The applicant must have a stable and dependable income, typically verified by two years of consistent employment. The income must also be sufficient to cover the mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance.
- The household’s adjusted income must be at or below the applicable low-to-moderate income limit for the area.
- A reasonable credit history. While a specific credit score is not mandated, a credit score of 640 or higher is typically required for streamlined processing. However, those with lower scores may still be eligible but may undergo a more stringent evaluation.
Questions Call (888)416-4805
Get cash from your home.
Apply to see how a cash out refinance can help you.
Homebuyer Seminars
Discover the keys to homeownership at our local Alachua, FL home buying seminars – your first step towards securing your dream home!
See our home loans.
Explore our diverse range of home loan programs tailored to fit your unique needs!
3. Income Limits:
- Income limits vary by county and household size. You’ll need to check with our Alachua, FL USDA service center or the USDA’s online tools to see specific limits.
4. Loan and Debt Ratios:
- Typically, a 29/41 ratio is followed. This means that 29% or less of your monthly income can go towards your mortgage (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) and 41% or less of your monthly income can go towards your total debt (this includes the mortgage and other debt obligations). Exceptions can be made in certain circumstances.
5. Other Requirements:
- Borrowers must personally occupy the dwelling as their primary residence.
- The borrower must be legally able to take on the loan obligation.
- First-time homebuyers are required to take a homeowner counseling class in some situations.
6. Loan Terms:
- The loan term is typically 30 years.
- No down payment is usually required.
- The interest rate can be set by the lender but is subject to USDA review.
7. Guarantee Fee and Annual Fee:
-
- The USDA charges an upfront guarantee fee, which can be rolled into the loan amount.
- There’s also an annual fee, which is a percentage of the remaining principal amount, typically spread out in monthly installments.
It’s crucial to remember that while these are the general requirements for Alachua USDA mortgages, eligibility details can change. It’s always a good idea to consult with one of our Alachua, FL USDA home loan professionals. Get pre-approved with our easy and stress free Alachua, FL USDA home mortgage today.
Do you need a Pre-Approval?
Get a same day Alachua, Florida USDA pre-approval to shop for your dream home!
Mortgage Resource Center
Why Refinancing Your Home Now in August is a Great Idea
As we move through August, homeowners are presented with a unique financial opportunity: refinancing their homes. The current economic landscape, Read moreThe Best Time to Refinance Your Home?
When is the Best Time to Refinance Your Home? Refinancing your home is a significant financial decision that can have lasting benefits if done Read more
We also provide USDA home loans in the following cities
More About Alachua, Florida
Alachua (/əˈlætʃueɪ/ ⓘ ə-LATCH-oo-ay) is the second-largest city in Alachua County, Florida and the third-largest in North Central Florida. According to the 2020 census, the city’s population was 10,574. Alachua has one of the largest bio and life sciences sectors in Florida and is the site for the Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies.
Evidence of habitation by pre-historic Paleo-Indians exists in several documented locations within the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. In the historic era, the primary town for the Potano tribe that lived throughout North Central Florida also was within San Felasco. This town became the site of the first Spanish doctrina (mission with a resident priest) in the Florida interior in 1606, Mission San Francisco de Potano, and it was the last to be abandoned by the Spanish in the early 1700s due to raids instigated by the British. Nearby to the north along the Santa Fe River was another mission, Santa Fe de Toloca, which was part of the mission chain stretching from St. Augustine to Pensacola.
The area slightly northeast of the current City of Alachua was among the first settled by Americans in Florida in the early 19th Century. Many participants in the Patriot War that attempted to force the annexation of Florida to the United States from the Spanish resided there, including the Dell family. The exact date of first settlement is unknown, but the community first known as Dell’s Courthouse then later renamed as Newnansville is, along with Micanopy, the oldest distinctly American settlement in the State. The Methodist church that started with the Dell family continues to this day and is the oldest in the State, First United Methodist Church of Alachua.
Newnansville became the second county seat of Alachua County and one of the central locations for activity during the Second Seminole War, with the inclusion of Fort Gilleland within its borders. The influx of settlers seeking refuge within the city temporarily increased the population between 1,500 to 2,000, making it one of the largest cities in the State.
When the first cross-state railroad, the Florida Railroad, bypassed Newnansville in the early 1850s, members of the County Commission voted by a slim margin to relocate the county seat along the rail line in a centrally-located, new city to be called Gainesville. Newnansville began to lose influence and, when the Savannah, Florida, and Western Railroad bypassed the city by about 1.5 miles to the southwest in the early 1880s, citizens began to relocate along the new rail line (eventually abandoning Newnansville and turning it into a ghost town) and established the City of Alachua. Alachua was founded in 1884, with its post office opening in 1887. It was incorporated as a city on 12th of April 1905, at which time it had a population of 526 people. A third rail line passed through the new city, and a booming cotton industry helped support the building of several lavish Queen Anne-style homes and brick businesses along Main Street at the turn of the century.