It seems that there is an endless amount of ways to finance a home in 2014. There’s FHA loans, conventional loans, loans that require money down or no money down, loans for renovations, the list goes on and on. While you can find a plethora of information online about home loans, let me fill you in on an Arizona USDA Home Loan and why you should consider applying for one.

You’ll need to know the answer to this first before you decide whether or not you’d like to apply for this loan. The first thing you need to know is that this loan in particular has a lot of upsides with very little catches. That’s the truth! Let’s explore the history first so you’ll be able to better understand.

The USDA home loan was created by the US Department of Agriculture with farmers in mind. However, it has benefited much more than that specific group of people. The USDA wanted people who lived in rural areas and low income households to be able to achieve that American dream we are all looking for—home ownership. Thus, there’s nothing secretive about this loan, there’s nothing you need to worry about, and no reason to be skeptical.

The Arizona USDA Home Loan offers something that the majority of other loans do not—that is 100% financing. That’s right. No money down. So even if you have been scrimping and saving for a down payment, you can keep that money in the bank or put it toward something else on your home because the USDA loan will finance it all. What’s great about this loan too is that often times the seller pays closing costs. When the seller doesn’t pay closing costs, the buyer can have those expenses rolled into the loan so you can literally move into a home without a single penny out of pocket. The first expense you’ll have to put toward your new home is simply your monthly mortgage payment.

Another upside to the Arizona USDA Home Loan is that the interest rates are remarkably low. The days of 10-20% interest rates are long gone and most people looking into this loan are able to finance a home for less than 7% interest. The USDA loan offers an entire percentage rate lower than other loans.

Perhaps one downside to the USDA loan in Arizona is that the areas where you are allowed to buy a home with this type of financing are very strictly defined. Since it is the US Department of Agriculture who developed this loan, it is only logical that this loan is offered specifically in rural areas. The USDA has a map on their website that describes which areas in Arizona are eligible. Don’t be distraught though, you will probably be very surprised to find that a lot of the areas you thought wouldn’t qualify, actually do!

The only other downside to this loan is that there is a cap on your income. Essentially, you cannot make more than about 115% of the median income for Arizona. For Arizona in particular, that averages out to about $75,000 per year. But hey, if you’re making more than that, maybe you’re better off anyway!

It’s pretty easy to qualify for the USDA home loan Arizona. You’ll have to have your mortgage broker or real estate agent check your debt to income ratio and make sure it is low. You don’t want to be paying a lot out in credit card payments and other debts when you’re trying to make a purchase as large as a home. When you factor the payments for the home you’re looking to buy, you will only be able to qualify for the loan if it does NOT put your debt to income ratio above 30%. This means that your monthly mortgage payment cannot equal out to more than 1/3 of your gross monthly income. While frustrating to some, this is actually a really wise eligibility requirement because it keeps you from becoming “house poor” and upping your chances of foreclosure.

If you think a USDA loan might be right for you, don’t hesitate to call your mortgage broker and see if you are eligible. Although parts of it seem too good to be true, it really is a great option for home buyers (ESPECIALLY first time home buyers) to consider. With no money down, 100% financing, and low interest rates, you really can’t beat it!