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USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona

USDA Rural Development, Rural Housing Service - Arizona State Office · Arizona

Last verified
Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

What is USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona?

USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona is a first mortgage for homebuyers in Arizona, administered by USDA Rural Development, Rural Housing Service - Arizona State Office.

  • The USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan Program helps low- and very-low-income applicants in eligible rural areas of Arizona obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing by lending directly to borrowers and providing payment assistance (a temporary interest subsidy) to increase repayment ability. Loans typically require no down payment and can fund purchase, construction, repair, renovation or relocation of a home, including site costs and water/sewer facilities. With payment assistance the effective interest rate can be reduced to as low as 1%. The program is open year-round through the Arizona State Office and local Rural Development offices.
  • Funding comes from Federal appropriations - USDA Rural Housing Service direct loan funds (Housing Act of 1949, Section 502; 7 CFR Part 3550).

Do you have to pay it back?

USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona is a first mortgage and is repaid under the terms set by USDA Rural Development, Rural Housing Service - Arizona State Office.

  • Repayment is triggered by Payment-assistance subsidy is recaptured (all or a portion) when the title transfers or the borrower no longer lives in the dwelling.
  • The assistance is recorded in First lien (direct mortgage from USDA) position.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona is open to buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: No published minimum credit score; applicant must demonstrate willingness and ability to repay.
  • Residency: Property must be located in a USDA-eligible rural area of Arizona (generally areas with population under 35,000; verify via USDA Eligibility Site).
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, U.S. non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-14): pending review. Applicant must be without decent/safe/sanitary housing, unable to obtain a loan on reasonable terms elsewhere, occupy the home as primary residence, have legal capacity, meet citizenship/eligible-noncitizen requirements, and not be suspended/debarred. Property must not exceed the county area loan limit and may not be income-producing. Payment subsidy (subsidy recapture) must be repaid in whole or part on title transfer or when the borrower no longer occupies the home.

The program excludes

  • Households above 80% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • Adjusted household income must be at or below the applicable low-income (or very-low-income) limit for the county; limits vary by Arizona county per the USDA Direct Loan income limit map. Very-low-income borrowers may qualify for a 38-year term.
  • The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s.
  • Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona caps the purchase price as follows: Property market value may not exceed the applicable USDA area loan limit for the county where the property is located.

  • Eligible property types include Single-family detached and Modest single-family home in eligible rural area.
  • New construction is eligible.
  • Manufactured homes are eligible.

Where does it apply?

USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona serves buyers purchasing anywhere in Arizona.

  • The program targets specific areas: Available only in USDA-designated eligible rural areas of Arizona.

How do you apply?

Applications for USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona go through USDA Rural Development, Rural Housing Service - Arizona State Office, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Contact USDA Rural Development, Rural Housing Service - Arizona State Office to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Applications accepted on an ongoing basis October 1 - September 30 through local Rural Development offices; processing depends on funding availability and demand., and are subject to availability.

  2. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona, explained

A short, free course on USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans (Section 502 Direct) - Arizona: what it is, who it is for, what the program sets and what your lender sets, where it applies and how to apply. Based on program data from August 2026. About ten minutes.

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