For Home Buyers & Homeowners
Apply for a USDA Loan:
Buy a Home with
Zero Down Payment
USDA loans offer 100% financing with no down payment required for eligible rural and suburban properties. A real DML loan officer reviews your eligibility, no call centers, no automated systems.
Zero down payment required for eligible borrowers
Competitive interest rates, often lower than conventional
Available in eligible rural and suburban areas
Pre-approval letter usually issued within one business day
- No fees to apply. No commitment to get started.
- Award-winning lender. Real loan officers. People who actually pick up the phone.
We know USDA-eligible areas across the state
See if you may qualify
A loan officer will follow up within one business day.
640
0%
41%
10 days
USDA loan guidelines at a glance
USDA loans have two eligibility requirements most borrowers forget to check: the property location and the household income limit. Both must be met. Our loan officers know exactly which areas and income levels qualify in your state. See the full requirements breakdown →
0%
Rural
Income
640+
Think you may qualify?
Pre-approval takes 60 seconds to start and a real loan officer reviews your profile, usually within one business day.
USDA vs. FHA vs. conventional: side-by-side
Not sure which loan is right for you? This table shows how USDA compares to your other main options. See the full USDA vs. FHA comparison →
| USDA Loan | FHA Loan | Conventional Loan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down payment | 0% | 3.5% (580+ score) | 3% to 20%+ |
| Min. credit score | 640 (streamlined) | 500 | 600 |
| Mortgage insurance | Annual fee (~0.35%) | MIP for life of loan | PMI — removable at 20% |
| Property requirement | Must be in eligible area | Primary residence | Primary, second home or investment |
| Income limit | 115% of area median | None | None |
| Best for | Zero-down in eligible areas | Lower credit, 3.5% down | Strong credit, no area restriction |
How to apply for a USDA loan with DML
Most borrowers complete pre-approval in a single day. Here is exactly what happens at each step.
1. Fill out the short form above
Name, email, phone and whether you are buying or refinancing. No credit pull required. No commitment to proceed.
Takes 60 Seconds. Go Back To Form ↑
2. A real loan officer reviews your profile
A licensed DML loan officer checks your property address and household income against the USDA eligibility maps and income limits for your county. Most eligibility checks take minutes.
Within 1 Business Day
3. Receive your pre-approval letter
4. Find your home and make an offer
5. Close your loan
Ready to move forward?
Fill out the form at the top of this page. A loan officer will follow up within one business day; by phone, email or text.
More on USDA loans from DML
Articles from our team covering USDA programs, eligibility, and how USDA compares to other loan types.
Your loan officer is a real person, not a chatbot
50+
20+
4.9★
13x
Real people. Real results.
Experience why DML has been named a Top Workplace for 11 consecutive years.
-Borndavid
Jessica was absolutely amazing to work with from start to finish. She was consistently prompt with her communication, professional, and genuinely committed to making the entire process as smooth as possible for us. Her guidance, clarity, and attention to detail made a huge difference and helped everything move forward effortlessly.
We truly appreciate all of her hard work and dedication. We will definitely work with Jessica again in the future and highly recommend her to anyone looking for exceptional service!
Highly recommend!
Our loan officer, Amber Vaziri, was an incredible guide, walking us through every step and patiently answering our many questions. They were always available, responding to our requests and inquiries promptly, which was invaluable during such an important time. This level of communication and personal attention made a huge difference.
DMI went above and beyond to ensure we understood our options and helped us secure the best possible deal for our situation. The level of professionalism, expertise, and genuine care we received was truly exceptional.
1. Advocating for us - When working with would-be sellers, Direct Mortgage was proactive in supporting us with pre-approval letters, turning these around quickly. They would answer any questions from the sellers; I never worried about Direct Mortgage being slow to respond. Their team vouched for us as buyers, which gave us strong offer packages, and contributed to our success.
2. Sophisticated use of data and technology - The emails we received from Direct Mortgage were helpful without being overbearing; their online portal was easy to navigate. When doing an initial consultation and in later calls, Hillary showed us how our different numbers (loan interest rate, down payment, number of points, etc.) would result in our different final package, timeline for breaking even, etc; this was very different than the approach other lenders took. As first time home buyers, it helped educate us and inform us about our options, so we could make the right decisions for us.
3. Hillary was responsive the whole time. We had tons of questions and what-if scenarios we wanted to understand, and Hillary answered all of these, showing her expertise and excellent communication. Whether on the phone, email, or a quick text, Hillary provided us the information needed in a friendly and professional manner.
Whether you’re a first-time borrower or not, Andy is someone you can trust to guide you through the process with professionalism and ease. I truly appreciated the personalized attention and dedication they provided—if you need a loan officer who’s got your back, look no further!
The Application was very simple to navigate.
Thank you!
His expertise and professionalism were evident from our very first conversation. Joe took the time to explain every detail, ensuring we fully understood our options and what to expect. He was always available to answer our questions and provide guidance, making us feel supported every step of the way.
Thanks to Joe's diligence and commitment, we were able to secure our mortgage quickly and confidently. His proactive approach and attention to detail made a significant difference, and we truly felt like we were in the best hands.
We can’t recommend Joe highly enough to anyone looking for a lender who will prioritize your needs and work tirelessly for your success. Thank you, Joe, for helping us achieve our dream of homeownership without a hitch!
You've definitely found the right mortgage company Mrs Vanessa and her team made my loan process quick and easy! I definitely couldn't have asked for better assistance, they truly came through for my family and i.
You may qualify for an USDA loan today.
will review your profile and walk you through your options, no pressure, no call centers.