{"id":"usda-section-502-direct-home-loan","name":"USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan","provider":"USDA Rural Development","entitlement_type":"government-benefit","entitlement_type_label":"Government benefit","entitlement_type_context":{"definition":"A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route.","domain":"public-benefits","archetype":"direct-program","agent_instruction":"Identify the administering jurisdiction and disclose income, household, age, disability, immigration, residence, renewal, fee, and capacity rules that apply."},"summary":"USDA Rural Development makes subsidized direct mortgages to qualifying low- and very-low-income households that otherwise cannot obtain affordable credit for a modest primary home in an eligible rural area.","benefit":{"description":"Direct fixed-rate financing to buy, build, repair, renovate, or relocate an eligible rural primary home and prepare its site, typically with no down payment and with income-based payment assistance that can reduce the effective interest rate substantially.","estimated_value_usd":null},"discovery":{"focus":"public-service","has_estimated_dollar_value":false},"access":{"relationships":["Low- or very-low-income applicant seeking an eligible rural primary home","Approved Section 502 Direct borrower receiving payment assistance"],"requirements":"Adjusted household income must be at or below the applicable low-income limit; the applicant must lack decent, safe, sanitary housing, be unable to obtain reasonable alternative credit, have legal capacity and willingness and ability to repay, meet citizenship or eligible-noncitizen and federal-program rules, and occupy an eligible, modest, non-income-producing rural property as the primary residence.","activation":"Use USDA's rural-address and income tools and Direct Loan self-assessment, select the state on the official program page, and submit a complete application to the listed Rural Development office with household, income, debt, assets, credit, and proposed-property information.","cost_basis":"discounted","cost_basis_label":"Discounted access","cost_basis_context":{"classification":"reduced-cost","definition":"The user pays a reduced price rather than receiving the core benefit at no charge.","agent_instruction":"State the known discounted price or reduction and any full-price items, add-ons, or eligibility conditions.","variation_patterns":null,"does_not_mean":null},"fees":"This is a repayable mortgage, not a grant. The note rate changes periodically, terms and maximum amount depend on repayment ability and area limits, funding and processing times vary, closing and ownership costs remain, and some applicants with assets may need to contribute them. All or part of payment subsidy is subject to recapture when title transfers or the borrower stops occupying the home.","personalized":false,"regions":["US","USDA-eligible rural areas"],"expires":null},"status":"verified","last_checked":"2026-08-04","claim_url":"https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans","source_url":"https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans","source":{"primary_url":"https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans","evidence":[{"source":"USDA Rural Development","url":"https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans","kind":"provider","checked_at":"2026-08-04"}]},"parent":null,"coverage":{"level":"national","family":"housing-and-disaster","jurisdiction":"United States","maturity":"direct"},"web_url":"/benefits/usda-section-502-direct-home-loan","taxonomy":{"version":"1.0","url":"/api/v1/taxonomy"}}