USDA loan
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Definition
A USDA loan is a mortgage made under U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development housing programs. It is a government program loan, not a conventional loan and not an FHA or VA loan.
In plain English
USDA Rural Development offers mortgage programs for eligible rural buyers. Private lenders often originate the loans under those rules. Income, location, and other eligibility tests belong to USDA. This page names the program family. It does not state current income limits or down-payment rules.
Technical definition
CFPB’s USDA loan heading describes Rural Housing Service mortgage programs for eligible rural homebuyers. USDA handbook glossary language is PROGRAM_CONTEXT only, not universal PRIMARY.
Why it matters
Product comparisons that say government loan still have to split FHA, VA, and USDA.
Commonly confused with
Sources reviewed
HB-2-3550 Glossary
Source reviewedSeptember 4, 2026
Mortgage key terms
Source reviewedSeptember 4, 2026
Important note
This page does not publish current USDA income or property-location rules.
Cite as
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