If you are not familiar, the Grand Traverse Area is elegible for USDA Rural Development finaincing.  There are 2 very different RD Loan Programs.  RD Guaranteed Loans are loans offered by lenders (such as First Place Bank) which are GUARANTEED by RD.  RD DIRECT lons are $0 DOWN Government Loans ONLY OFFERED through the US Department of Agriulture.

 

RD Direct Housing Loans

 

Purpose: Section 502 loans are primarily used to help low-income individuals or households purchase homes in rural areas. Funds can be used to build, repair, renovate or relocate a home, or to purchase and prepare sites, including providing water and sewage facilities.

 

Eligibility: Applicants for direct loans from HCFP must have very low or low incomes. Very low income is defined as below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI); low income is between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; moderate income is 80 to 100 percent of AMI. Click here to review area income limits for this program. Families must be without adequate housing, but be able to afford the mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance, which are typically within 22 to 26 percent of an applicant's income. However, payment subsidy is available to applicants to enhance repayment ability. Applicants must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere, yet have reasonable credit histories.

 

Terms: Loans are for up to 33 years (38 for those with incomes below 60 percent of AMI and who cannot afford 33-year terms). The term is 30 years for manufactured homes. The promissory note interest rate is set by HCFP based on the Government cost of money. However, that interest rate is modified by payment assistance subsidy.

 

Standards: Under the Section 502 program, housing must be modest in size, design, and cost. Modest housing is property that is considered modest for the area, does not have market value in excess of the applicable area loan limit, and does not have certain prohibited features. Houses constructed, purchased, or rehabilitated must meet the voluntary national model building code adopted by the state and HCFP thermal and site standards. Manufactured housing must be permanently installed and meet the HUD Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards and HCFP thermal and site standards.

 

For more information please visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HAD-Direct_Housing_Loans.html 

 

If you prefer you can download an application by CLICKING HERE.