USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho)
USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) is a first mortgage for homebuyers in Statewide, Idaho, administered by USDA Rural Development - Rural Housing Service (Idaho State Office).
The program asks for
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, U.S. non-citizen national, or qualified alien
- Property must be in a USDA-eligible rural area and within county area loan limits. Borrower must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere on reasonable terms, lack decent/safe/sanitary housing, and meet citizenship/eligible-noncitizen requirements. Subsidy recapture applies on sale/transfer or when borrower no longer occupies the home. No fixed minimum credit score.
- A home in Idaho
These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.
Where it applies
Idaho’s homesIdaho’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 73.8% single-familysingle-family
- 3.7% townhousetownhouse
- 6.5% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 8.9% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 7.2% mobile & othermobile home & other
A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
$418,600
Idaho median home value
39%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year.
How to apply
How to applyTwo steps, in this order
Contact USDA Rural Development - Rural Housing Service (Idaho State Office) to reserve funds
Funds are reserved with the provider and are subject to availability.
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 homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Questions about this program
What is USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho)?
USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) is a first mortgage for homebuyers in Statewide, Idaho, administered by USDA Rural Development - Rural Housing Service (Idaho State Office). The USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan Program helps low- and very-low-income applicants in eligible rural areas of Idaho obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing through direct loans with payment assistance (a subsidy that temporarily reduces the payment, potentially to an effective rate as low as 1%). No down payment is typically required. The program is administered directly by USDA Rural Development and is currently open with applications accepted year-round. No down payment typically required. Payment subsidy can reduce effective rate to as low as 1%. Up to 33-38 year repayment term. Direct federal loan for low/very-low income rural buyers. Funding comes from USDA Rural Development direct loan appropriations (Housing Act of 1949, Section 502).
Do you have to pay it back?
USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) is a first mortgage and is repaid under the terms set by USDA Rural Development - Rural Housing Service (Idaho State Office). Repayment is triggered by Payment subsidy (subsidy recapture) repaid in whole or part when title transfers or the borrower no longer occupies the dwelling. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.
Who qualifies?
USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) is open to homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, U.S. non-citizen national, or qualified alien. Property must be in a USDA-eligible rural area and within county area loan limits. Borrower must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere on reasonable terms, lack decent/safe/sanitary housing, and meet citizenship/eligible-noncitizen requirements. Subsidy recapture applies on sale/transfer or when borrower no longer occupies the home. No fixed minimum credit score.
What are the income limits?
USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) sets its income limit as follows: Applicant adjusted income must be at or below the applicable low-income limit for the area; very-low- and low-income applicants only. Varies by county and household size per USDA Direct income eligibility tables. 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 Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) caps the purchase price as follows: Property market value may not exceed the applicable area loan limit for the county. Eligible property types include Single Family. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are eligible.
Where does it apply?
USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) serves homebuyers purchasing in Statewide, Idaho. The program targets specific areas: Property must be in a USDA-designated eligible rural area (verify via the USDA Eligibility site).
How do you apply?
Applications for USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan (Idaho) go through USDA Rural Development - Rural Housing Service (Idaho State Office), which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Also for Idaho homebuyersOther programs open to Idaho homebuyers
- FHLB Des Moines Native American Homeownership Initiative (NAHI) GrantUp to $25,000
- FHLB Des Moines Home$tart Down Payment Assistance GrantUp to $15,000
- Idaho Housing Homebuyer Tax Credit (Mortgage Credit Certificate / MCC)Up to $2,000
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 73 programs for IdahoProgram terms are set by USDA Rural Development - Rural Housing Service (Idaho State Office) and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.