The Section 502 Direct Loan Program, also known as USDA Direct Loans, is a program that aids low and very-low-income individuals purchase decent healthy, safe and clean housing in eligible rural areas. That’s accomplished though offering payment assistance which boosts a borrower’s capacity to repay. This payment assistance can be described as a form of subsidy that lowers the mortgage repayment for a brief period, and the amount of assistance is contingent upon the adjusted family income. USDA Section 502 Direct Loans in California aren’t the same thing as USDA Section 502 Guaranteed Loans in California. The USDA Guaranteed Loan Program is more popular and accommodates a wider range of applicant incomes.
Can I get a USDA Direct Loan in California?
USDA Direct Loans in California are low income loans that can be used to purchase homes in rural areas. To qualify for Direct Loans, applicants must have low or very low income, which is defined by the USDA as 50% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Like other rural housing loan programs, USDA Direct Loans are a mortgage with no down payment. The median income for the entire state of CA is $75,235, although that figure may vary from county to county. The maximum yearly income limits for California USDA Direct Loan approval are listed below. Other than meeting California USDA Direct Loan income limits, applicants must adhere to the following criteria to be eligible:
- You have no decent clean, safe, and sanitary housing presently.
- You can’t be able to get a mortgage from another source with terms and conditions that could reasonably expected to be met.
- You must use this property for your primary residence.
- You must possess the legal capacity to be able to contract a loan
- You must meet citizenship or eligible noncitizen requirements.
- You can’t be barred or suspended from participation in federal programs.
Additionally, the subject property must meet the following conditions:
- Be a modestly sized home for that area.
- Market value can’t be in excess of the areas applicable loan limit.
- Can’t be designed for the production of income.
What areas in CA are eligible for USDA Direct Loans?
The property in question must be in an approved rural area. USDA Rural Development provides a webpage where you can search specific addresses in CA here.
How much can I borrow with a USDA Direct Home Loan?
The size of the mortgage that an applicant’s eligible for depends on their ability to repay. Rural Development takes into account income, assets, debt, and payment assistance when weighing eligibility for USDA Direct home loans. No matter what the repayment ability is, you can’t borrow more than the local loan limit for the county where the home is located.
Are there other mortgage options with low down payment or no down payment in California?
Yes, there may be other low down payment mortgage options, and no down payment mortgage options in California besides USDA Direct Loans. You can begin by researching California USDA Guaranteed Loans, California FHA Loans, and California VA Loans if you’re a veteran in CA or qualified family member. You may also want to look into helpful programs for down payment assistance in California.
California USDA Direct Loan Maximum Income Limits
Area | 1 Person | 2 Person |
3 Person | 4 Person |
5 Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine County, CA | $69,100 | $69,100 | $69,100 | $69,100 | $91,200 |
| Amador County, CA | $58,900 | $58,900 | $58,900 | $58,900 | $77,750 |
| Bakersfield, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Calaveras County, CA | $60,250 | $60,250 | $60,250 | $60,250 | $79,550 |
| Chico, CA MSA | $53,200 | $53,200 | $53,200 | $53,200 | $70,200 |
| Colusa County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Del Norte County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| El Centro, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Fresno, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Glenn County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Humboldt County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Inyo County, CA | $58,150 | $58,150 | $58,150 | $58,150 | $76,750 |
| Lake County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Lassen County, CA | $55,500 | $55,500 | $55,500 | $55,500 | $73,250 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $83,500 | $83,500 | $83,500 | $83,500 | $110,200 |
| Madera, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Mariposa County, CA | $52,400 | $52,400 | $52,400 | $52,400 | $69,150 |
| Mendocino County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Merced, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Modesto, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Modoc County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Mono County, CA | $64,950 | $64,950 | $64,950 | $64,950 | $85,750 |
| Napa, CA MSA | $79,500 | $79,500 | $79,500 | $79,500 | $104,950 |
| Nevada County, CA | $63,750 | $63,750 | $63,750 | $63,750 | $84,150 |
| Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $108,550 | $108,550 | $108,550 | $108,550 | $143,300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA | $83,700 | $83,700 | $83,700 | $83,700 | $110,500 |
| Plumas County, CA | $55,700 | $55,700 | $55,700 | $55,700 | $73,500 |
| Redding, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA | $57,450 | $57,450 | $57,450 | $57,450 | $75,850 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $66,900 | $66,900 | $66,900 | $66,900 | $88,300 |
| Salinas, CA MSA | $71,850 | $71,850 | $71,850 | $71,850 | $94,850 |
| San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $81,600 | $81,600 | $81,600 | $81,600 | $107,700 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA | $90,900 | $90,900 | $90,900 | $90,900 | $120,000 |
| San Francisco, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $147,850 | $147,850 | $147,850 | $147,850 | $195,150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $132,400 | $132,400 | $132,400 | $132,400 | $174,750 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA MSA | $71,900 | $71,900 | $71,900 | $71,900 | $94,900 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $94,950 | $94,950 | $94,950 | $94,950 | $125,350 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA | $113,750 | $113,750 | $113,750 | $113,750 | $150,150 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA | $90,950 | $90,950 | $90,950 | $90,950 | $120,050 |
| Santa Rosa, CA MSA | $88,000 | $88,000 | $88,000 | $88,000 | $116,150 |
| Sierra County, CA | $60,300 | $60,300 | $60,300 | $60,300 | $79,600 |
| Siskiyou County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA | $56,000 | $56,000 | $56,000 | $56,000 | $73,900 |
| Tehama County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Trinity County, CA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Tuolumne County, CA | $53,100 | $53,100 | $53,100 | $53,100 | $70,100 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA MSA | $68,550 | $68,550 | $68,550 | $68,550 | $90,500 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
| Yolo, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $70,300 | $70,300 | $70,300 | $70,300 | $92,800 |
| Yuba City, CA MSA | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $51,850 | $68,450 |
More USDA Loan Resources
USDA Direct Loan Income Limits (Low Income)
USDA Direct Loan Limits (Low Income)
All USDA Loan Limits
All USDA Loan Income Limits
USDA Loan Requirements
USDA Loan Programs
USDA Loan Calculator
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