USDA Home Loans in Central Texas
100% financing for eligible rural and suburban properties outside Austin's urban core — low rates, minimal mortgage insurance.
Why buyers outside city limits choose USDA
Is your property USDA-eligible?
Many communities just outside Austin — including parts of Hutto, Elgin, Manor and Lockhart — qualify as USDA-eligible. Send us the address and we'll confirm eligibility for free.
USDA loan FAQ
How USDA loan eligibility is determined
USDA home loans have two eligibility tests: the property must sit inside a USDA-designated rural or suburban area, and your household income must fall under the limit for your county and family size. The property test surprises many buyers — a large share of communities within a 30 to 45 minute drive of Austin qualify, including areas around Hutto, Elgin, Manor, Lockhart and parts of Bastrop and Caldwell counties. USDA boundaries shift as metro areas grow, so an address that did not qualify a few years ago may qualify today.
What 100% financing really means
A USDA loan finances the full purchase price with no down payment, which makes it one of only two zero-down programs available to civilian buyers alongside VA loans. You will still have closing costs, though sellers are allowed to contribute toward them, and in some cases eligible closing costs can be rolled into the loan when the appraised value supports it.
USDA guarantee fees vs. FHA mortgage insurance
Instead of traditional mortgage insurance, USDA loans carry an upfront guarantee fee and a smaller annual fee collected monthly. Those costs are generally lower than FHA's mortgage insurance premiums, which is why a USDA loan often produces a lower monthly payment than an FHA loan on the same property — assuming the address and income both qualify.
Credit and income guidelines
USDA does not publish a hard minimum credit score, though most lenders look for roughly 640 to use automated underwriting. Income limits are based on total household income, not just the borrowers on the loan, and vary by county and household size. Because both tests are address-specific and household-specific, the fastest path is simply to send us the property address and your household details — we will confirm eligibility at no cost before you write an offer.