Texas USDA Loan Built Outside the Major Metros
Most of Texas outside the major metros qualifies for USDA. A Texas USDA Loan opens broad rural and small town geography with a zero down path, honest income limits, real mapping, and the right lender for your full Texas story.
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What Texas Buyers Need to Know About USDA Eligibility
USDA eligibility in Texas covers most of the state outside the major metros around Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Income limits run around 115 percent of area median, adjusted for household size. The property must be your primary residence, structurally sound, and inside the eligible USDA map. We pull county boundaries and run your income math honestly, before any specific Texas property commitment.
Our Rates For You
USDA 30 Year Purchase
Rates and APR shown are based on a $350,000 loan amount, 850 credit score, primary residence, single family home, 75% loan to value ratio, and owner occupied property. Payment example assumes no other liens on the property and includes principal and interest only. Taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, and escrow items are not included and will increase the actual payment. Rates, APR, and points are subject to change without notice and may vary based on credit profile, property type, occupancy, loan to value, loan amount, and other qualifying factors. Not all borrowers will qualify.
What Makes a Texas USDA Loan Worth Pursuing
Three things make a USDA loan worth pursuing for Texas buyers who qualify on geography and income. Zero down payment, modest fees relative to FHA insurance, and rural and small town flexibility that fits broad Texas geography outside the major metros most other products do not.
Zero Down on Eligible Texas Geography
USDA's zero down structure lets qualified Texas buyers skip the saving years most other programs require. Across broad eligible Texas geography, closing costs can often roll into seller credits, accelerating the realistic path to keys.
Texas USDA Fee Math Wins
USDA's one percent upfront guarantee fee plus roughly 0.35 percent annual fee usually beats FHA's combined insurance costs over the life of a Texas loan. We model both side by side honestly first.
Texas Map Expertise Throughout
USDA's geographic and income rules trip up generalist lenders. We know the Texas eligibility map cold, run your income math precisely, and stay your one advisor from the first call through closing day honestly.
Your Texas USDA Loan Path, Step by Step
USDA Loans compared with other mortgage loans
USDA
FHA
Conventional
VA
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Affordability with a USDA loan.
Test different home prices, down payment amounts, and property taxes for your county to see what fits your budget. This USDA Loan calculator gives you a clear estimate of your potential payment so you can choose a number that feels comfortable before you start touring homes.
Texas USDA Loan Questions, Answered Honestly
Still unsure? Talk to someone who hears you, not a script.
USDA publishes an interactive eligibility map. We pull it for any specific Texas property address you are considering and confirm whether it falls inside the eligible boundary before you write an offer. Most of Texas outside Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio qualifies, but verification per specific address still matters.
USDA limits run roughly 115 percent of area median income, adjusted for household size. Texas county medians vary widely between rural counties and metro edges. We pull the exact figure for your specific Texas county and household composition before any work moves forward, so you know honestly where you stand here.
USDA wins on no down payment and lower long term fees compared to FHA, but only works in USDA eligible Texas geography. FHA fits if your target sits inside Houston, Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio metros, or if you want options on properties USDA simply will not touch. We model both honestly first.
USDA charges a one percent upfront guarantee fee, typically rolled into the Texas loan amount, plus an annual fee of roughly 0.35 percent of the loan balance, paid monthly. Both are meaningfully lower than FHA mortgage insurance over the full life of a typical Texas loan we model honestly.
USDA condition standards run stricter than conventional. The Texas property must have a sound roof critical given storm exposure, working HVAC essential for Texas summers, no peeling exterior paint, safe water and septic, and no major structural issues. Common items the seller can address before closing rather than after.
USDA itself sets no official minimum credit score, but most lenders want 640 or higher for automated approval through the Guaranteed Underwriting System. Below 640, your Texas file goes to manual underwriting, which works but requires more documentation around the story behind the score honestly. We walk you through both paths.
USDA closings in Texas typically run thirty to forty five days, longer than conventional or FHA. The reason is two stage approval: your lender underwrites first, then the file goes to the USDA office for a final review. We set that expectation honestly with you and your real estate agent up front from day one.
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Advertised offers are not guaranteed if you do not continue to meet Oxford Home Lending's criteria and other factors bearing on your creditworthiness. Rates will vary depending on your loan term, loan type, credit profile & score, down payment, qualifying ratios, and property collateral. Monthly payments do not include property taxes, property insurance, and homeowners' association dues. Since costs can vary based on a loan program, closing costs are not shown in the examples. To qualify for a mortgage, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and meet Oxford Home Lending's underwriting and Investor requirements. Interest rate examples are as of 03/03/2026 and subject to change without notice. All loans are subject to underwriting or investor approval. Other restrictions may apply. This is not an offer of credit or a commitment to lend. Rate subject to change depending on time of lock.
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Lower, LLC | NMLS ID# 1124061 | 5950 Symphony Woods Road Suite 312 Columbia, MD 21044 | Equal Housing Opportunity | https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/ | Not an offer of credit or commitment to make a loan; all approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines including but not limited to acceptable current credit worthiness, income history, debt ratio, etc. Loan programs & options are subject to change at any time. Rates will vary depending on your loan term, loan type, credit profile, down payment, and qualifying ratios. Rates can change daily. Some restrictions may apply. No statement herein should be construed as being made on behalf of any state or federal agency.
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