Zero down.Decided by address.
USDA can finance 100% of a home in parts of the DFW map most buyers never think to check. This page explains the income limits, the fees, and the address rule that decides everything.
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The USDA Guaranteed Loan (Section 502) is a 30-year fixed mortgage with no money down for homes in USDA-eligible areas. There is no dollar cap on the price. What limits buyers is household income and the exact address. The cost is a 1% upfront guarantee fee and a 0.35% annual fee, both confirmed for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027).
Who qualifies.
- Adjusted household income in Collin, Dallas or Denton County at or below $139,300 for 1 to 4 members, or $183,900 for 5 to 8 members (limits in effect as of October 11, 2026).
- In Tarrant County the limits are $126,850 for 1 to 4 members and $167,450 for 5 to 8 members (as of October 11, 2026).
- The home sits in a USDA-eligible rural area, confirmed for that exact address on the USDA property map.
- The home is the buyer's principal residence. Investment property does not qualify.
- Debt ratios generally at 29% for housing and 41% for total debt (7 CFR 3555).
- U.S. citizen, U.S. non-citizen national or Qualified Alien.
- USDA sets no minimum credit score. The automated system (GUS) decides acceptability.
How it works.
Check the address
Every property is checked on the USDA eligibility map. Two homes a few streets apart can fall on different sides of the line, and that line matters most at the edges of fast-growing DFW suburbs.
Check household income
The test uses adjusted household income against the county limit for the household size band (1 to 4 or 5 to 8 members).
Work with a USDA approved lender
The guaranteed loan is made by private lenders approved by USDA. The lender runs the file through GUS, USDA's automated underwriting.
Contract and appraisal
The loan is limited to market value plus the guarantee fee. When the appraisal supports it, closing costs can be included in some cases.
Close and move in
The 1% guarantee fee can be financed into the loan. The 0.35% annual fee is paid monthly as part of the payment.
Example: a $300,000 USDA purchase
Example only. The annual fee is shown as 0.35% of the $300,000 base amount for a simple first-year estimate; the lender's exact figure is based on the loan balance, so these numbers are approximate. Fees are those confirmed for FY2027. Principal, interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance are not included and vary by home, rate and county.
The packet includes the USDA property map and income tools, the county income limits for your household size, a document checklist and a vetted USDA approved lender match.
What works
- No down payment: 100% financing.
- No dollar cap on the purchase price. The loan is limited to market value plus the guarantee fee.
- Annual fee of 0.35%, lower than FHA's 0.55% annual MIP at 3.5% down.
- No minimum credit score set by USDA.
- The 1% upfront fee can be financed, and closing costs can be included in some cases.
What it costs you
- Only homes in USDA-eligible areas qualify, checked address by address.
- Household income limits apply, and they count the household, not only the borrowers.
- Principal residence only. No investment property.
- 30-year fixed is the only term.
- Debt ratio guides of 29% and 41% are tighter than some other loan types.
The part nobody explains.
USDA has no price cap. Income is the real limit, which is why a larger household (5 to 8 members) gets a higher income limit: $183,900 in Collin, Dallas and Denton as of October 11, 2026.
Eligibility is decided by the exact address, not the city or ZIP code. In growing DFW suburbs one subdivision can qualify while the next one does not.
A credit score of 680 or higher can work as a compensating factor when debt ratios run above 29% and 41%.
Because the loan can reach market value plus the guarantee fee, an appraisal above the price can leave room to include closing costs.
Collin, Dallas and Denton share one income limit; Tarrant has a lower one. The county of the home sets the limit.
Get the packet.
The official links are not on this page on purpose. They come in one email, organized, with what to do with each one and in what order.
- The packet includes the USDA property map and income tools, the county income limits for your household size, a document checklist and a vetted USDA approved lender match.
- Every official link for this program, plus the links for every guide you explored here
- A match with a Texava-vetted lender who closes this program
- A direct reply from Albert in English or Spanish
Where should I send it?
Your packet is on its way.
Every guide you explore before you leave gets added to the next packet. Keep reading below.
Programs stack.
TSAHC's grant option works only with FHA, VA and USDA loans, so it can sit on top of a USDA first lien.
Texas / TDHCA / First-time buyers6.4My First Texas HomeMy First Texas Home runs on FHA, VA and USDA loans for first-time buyers, with down payment assistance of 2% to 5%.
Side by side.
The Texava Score weighs what matters to a buyer: cash saved 40%, ease to qualify 25%, speed and paperwork 15%, fewer strings 20%.
Asked most.
Is there a maximum home price for USDA?+
No dollar cap. The loan is limited to market value plus the guarantee fee, and household income is what restricts the purchase.
Are Frisco, McKinney or Denton eligible?+
Eligibility is set by the exact address on the USDA property map, not by city name. Each address is checked on its own.
What credit score does USDA need?+
USDA sets no minimum. GUS, USDA's automated system, decides acceptability, and lenders may add their own standards. A 680 or higher can help offset higher debt ratios.
Can USDA buy a rental property?+
No. USDA is for a principal residence only.
Is there an adjustable-rate option?+
No. The guaranteed loan is a 30-year fixed mortgage only.
The value compounds.
3.5% down with a 580 score
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