9 Best USDA Mortgage Lenders of 2023
If you live in an eligible area and are interested in a USDA loan, we'll help you choose an approved lender for USDA financing.
Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.
If you’re planning to buy a home in a rural area or even a suburb, a USDA loan may be an option for you. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers these zero-down-payment loans to home buyers who qualify. The property must be in an eligible area of the country, and borrowers must meet certain income requirements.
The USDA issues some loans itself and guarantees USDA loans offered through approved lenders, such as those listed below. NerdWallet has reviewed some of the best USDA mortgage lenders to help you decide which is the right lender for you.
If you’re planning to buy a home in a rural area or even a suburb, a USDA loan may be an option for you. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers these zero-down-payment loans to home buyers who qualify. The property must be in an eligible area of the country, and borrowers must meet certain income requirements.
The USDA issues some loans itself and guarantees USDA loans offered through approved lenders, such as those listed below. NerdWallet has reviewed some of the best USDA mortgage lenders to help you decide which is the right lender for you.
Best USDA Mortgage Lenders
Lender | NerdWallet rating | Min. credit score | Min. down payment | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Carrington: NMLS#2600 | Best for borrowers with weaker credit | 550 | 0% | Read review |
 Flagstar: NMLS#417490 | Best for first-time home buyers | 660 | 0% | Read review |
 New American Funding: NMLS#6606 Learn more at New American Funding | Best for variety of mortgages | 640 | 3% | Learn more at New American Funding |
 Northpointe: NMLS#447490 Learn more at Northpointe | Best for first-time home buyers | 620 | 0% | Learn more at Northpointe |
 Pennymac: NMLS#35953 Learn more at Pennymac | Best for rate transparency | 620 | 0% | Learn more at Pennymac |
 PNC: NMLS#446303 | Best for traditional lending experience | 640 | 0% | Read review |
 Truist: NMLS#399803 | Best for traditional lending experience | N/A | N/A | Read review |
 Wells Fargo: NMLS#399801 | Best for traditional lending experience | 620 | 0% | Read review |
 Wintrust Mortgage: NMLS#449042 | Best for digital convenience | N/A | 0% | Read review |
Carrington: NMLS#2600
Min. credit score
550Min. down payment
0%Flagstar: NMLS#417490
Min. credit score
660Min. down payment
0%at New American Funding
New American Funding: NMLS#6606
Min. credit score
640National / regional
Nationalat New American Funding
at Northpointe
Northpointe: NMLS#447490
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
0%at Northpointe
at Pennymac
Pennymac: NMLS#35953
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
0%at Pennymac
Truist: NMLS#399803
Min. credit score
N/AMin. down payment
N/AWells Fargo: NMLS#399801
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
0%Wintrust Mortgage: NMLS#449042
Min. credit score
N/AMin. down payment
0%What's the difference between a USDA guaranteed loan and a USDA direct loan?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers two main types of USDA mortgages — guaranteed loans and direct loans.
USDA guaranteed loans are mortgages that are backed by the USDA, meaning if you were to default on the loan, the agency would repay your lender. This helps lenders make low- or no-down-payment loans to borrowers who may have lower credit scores or limited income.
You'll work with a USDA-approved lender to get a USDA guaranteed loan. In addition to the lenders listed here, you can also find a list of all approved lenders organized by state on the USDA website.
USDA direct loans come straight from the USDA rather than a mortgage lender. These home loans are for borrowers who are unable to qualify for a USDA guaranteed loan and whose income is below 80% of the median household income in their area.
To find out if you are eligible for a USDA direct loan, contact your state's USDA Rural Development Office.
Basic requirements for USDA guaranteed loans
There are several qualifications both you and the property you're hoping to buy will need to meet in order to be eligible for a USDA guaranteed home loan.
USDA mortgages are meant for lower-income borrowers, so your household income must be below 115% of the area's median household income. The income threshold is adjusted depending on how many people are in your household. Check the USDA's website to see if your income qualifies.
Since the USDA's home loan programs are focused on revitalizing rural America, the property you're buying must be in a designated area. You can use the address lookup tool on the USDA's website to see whether the home you're interested in will qualify.
» MORE: Learn more about USDA loan requirements
More from NerdWallet
Last updated on March 1, 2023
Methodology
The star ratings on this page reflect each lender's overall star ratings. Read more about how we determine those ratings.
The lenders on this page are chosen using this methodology:
NerdWallet reviewed more than 50 mortgage lenders, including the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (measured among lenders with at least a 1% market share), lenders with significant online search volume and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country.
For inclusion on this roundup, lenders must score a 4.5 or above according to our overall methodology and offer USDA loans.
NerdWallet solicits information from reviewed lenders on a recurring basis throughout the year. All lender-provided information is verified through lender websites and interviews. We also utilized 2021 HMDA data for origination volume, origination fee, average interest rate and share-of-product data.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best USDA Mortgage Lenders of 2023
- Carrington: Best for borrowers with weaker credit
- Flagstar: Best for first-time home buyers
- New American Funding: Best for variety of mortgages
- Northpointe: Best for first-time home buyers
- Pennymac: Best for rate transparency
- PNC: Best for traditional lending experience
- Truist: Best for traditional lending experience
- Wells Fargo: Best for traditional lending experience
- Wintrust Mortgage: Best for digital convenience
Frequently asked questions
Not all lenders offer USDA financing. The USDA maintains a list of approved lenders for USDA loans, which includes online lenders and banks with branches nationwide, as well as small-town banks and credit unions. Apply for preapproval with more than one lender to be sure you're getting the best USDA loan rate.
To qualify for a USDA-guaranteed loan, the property you want to buy must be located in an eligible area. USDA loans also have maximum income limits based on where you live and how many people are in your household. If your income is too low for a USDA guaranteed loan, you may be able to qualify for a USDA direct loan.
USDA guaranteed loans don’t require a minimum down payment, but other requirements are highly specific. You must be unable to qualify for a conventional loan without private mortgage insurance. Your projected mortgage payment cannot be more than 29% of your monthly income. And though the USDA does not have a minimum credit score requirement, lenders may set their own guidelines.
To get approved for a USDA guaranteed loan, you'll have to reach out to a USDA-approved lender. You'll need to provide information about your income, assets and debts. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for a USDA loan, so you may need to provide proof of that status as well.
