How to Get a Government Home Loan with Low or Moderate Income
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For direct loans, application is made at the Rural Development field office serving the county where the dwelling is or will be located. For guaranteed loans, application is made to a participting lender. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Rural Development field offices have the authority to approve most Direct loan requests. The processing of guaranteed loans will vary from State to State. You will need to contact the Rural Development State Office in your area. It will be listed in your local telephone directory.

If no backlog exists, decisions on direct loan applications are made within 30 to 60 days. Requests for guarantee loans are acted upon in 3 days.

The time it takes to get approved or disapproved can range anywhere from 30 days to 60 days depending on the availablity of funds and whether or not the application was filed while a backlog of applications are present. For guarantees, a decision is required within 3 days of loan package submission by the approved lender.

You CAN appeal if you are denied the loan or loan guarantee:

"Agency regulations providing customers with the rights for an informal review, mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR), or appeal to the National Appeals Division (NAD) are contained in 7 CFR Part 3550. NAD regulations are found at 7 CFR Part 11. Requests for an informal review, mediation and ADR must be received within 30 days from the date of the adverse decision. Requests for an appeal to NAD must be received within 30 days of receipt of the adverse decision."

You can also reapply at any time.

This assistance is available throughout the year by means of quarterly allocations. Funds may be given at the loan closing or they may be deposited in the bank account for purchase of a building site, and purchase or repair of a dwelling, or in multiple advances for construction. For guaranteed loans, funds are distributed after all the work has been completed.

Just so you know, the applications for direct loans far exceed available funding. There's usually a waiting list if you want direct loan funding for a home.

You are not required to, but you should keep copies of any of your loan related documents.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

From $1,000 to $105,000; an average of $73,350 for 502 direct loans, and 93,000 for guaranteed loans. Loans in high cost areas may be higher.

Literature and Guidelines: 7 CFR Part 3550 "Direct Single Family Housing Loans and Grants." For guaranteed loans, 1980-D "Subpart D -Rural Housing Loans."

You can contact their offices here:

For Your Local Office:

They will be listed under United States Department of Agriculture for Rural Development in your local phone directory. If you can't find their listing, you can contact the Rural Development State Office on the web here: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

Headquarters Office

Director, Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division or Director Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Division, Rural Housing Service (RHS), Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 720-1474 (direct loans); (202) 720-1452 (guaranteed loans).

You can visit their web site here: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

About The Author Rebecca Game is the founder of Digital Women ®, an online community for women in business. A 30 year entrepreneur and dedicated to helping other women find business loans and business grants. Visit her site: Business Grants for Women or at her main site: http://www.digital-women.com.

How to Get a Government Home Loan with Low or Moderate Income
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Additional Resources

category - Home Buying Programs

First Time Homebuyer Programs in Idaho
The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, otherwise referred t as IDFA, is Idaho's uniquely created and organized financial institution and administrator of affordable housing resources.

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First Time Homebuyer Programs in District of Columbia
The Department of Housing and Community Development, more commonly referred to as DHCD, is a local government agency in the District of Columbia that is primarily responsible for increasing quality housing and community development opportunities.

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Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program
The Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program intends to financially assist families as they repair or improve, purchase and improve, or refinance and improve their current residential properties that have been existent for more than a year.

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California Homebuyer's Downpayment Assistance Program for First Time Home Buyers
The California Homebuyer's Downpayment Assistance Program is a deferred payment junior loan that can be used in conjunction with other CalHFA housing programs. It provides borrowers with funds amounting to 3% of the actual value of the property that they wish to inquire in order to cover the downpayment costs.

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