USDA Underwriting Guidelines

UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES

(Applicant and Income Requirements)

Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Applicant Eligibility

Have the ability to personally occupy the dwelling
Be a citizen of the United States or be admitted for permanent residency
Non-occupant co-borrowers are not permitted
Generally, borrowers must sell their existing home

Income

Applicants must have adequate and dependable income, typically with a history of 24 months
Qualifying ratios are 29/41; however, higher ratios considered with strong compensating factors, including good credit scores (660+), stable employment history, potential for increased earnings, and ability to save.
Income to be verified with a written VOE and one month’s current paystubs, OR one month’s paystubs and two years of W2’s.
2/1 buydowns qualifying ratios are calculated using note rate.
Debts with more than 6 monthly payments remaining must be included in qualifying ratios
Student loan payments must be included in ratios even if loans are currently in deferment
Self employed borrowers require two year history with 1040’s
Disability and Social Security benefits – 3 year continuance documented with award letter or 2 months bank statements, grossed up 125%
Salary increases within 60 days of the first payment due date are acceptable
Part time employment must have a history of no less than 12 months
Alimony and child support income must continue for 3 years and have no less than a 12 month history
Any income of a non-purchasing spouse must be verified to make sure income limits are not exceeded

Income Calculations

USDA Rural Development determines applicant’s income in two manners:

Eligibility Income – Includes all income (salary, tips, bonus, overtime, alimony, child support, etc..) received by the applicant and co-applicant(s). This income is used to calculate qualifying ratios.

Adjusted Income – This is the applicant’s eligibility income less the total of any of the following deductions applicable to the loan. Income from all household members must be included in the total adjusted income. This adjusted income must not exceed 115% of the median household income for the area. (see spreadsheet).

Allowable Deductions to Determine “Adjusted Income”:

*Member of* *Household*	*Amount of Deduction*
Each minor child under 18 years of age	$480
Each disabled or handicapped individual who is not the applicant or co-applicant	$480
Each full time student 18 years or older	$480
Each elderly (62 years of age or older) or disabled applicant	$400
Medical expenses for any elderly family member	Total that exceeds 3% of gross annual income
Child care expenses for children 12 years old or under	Actual cost of care, supported by full documentation of cost

UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES

(Credit Requirements)

Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Credit History

Applicants must have a credit history that indicates a reasonable ability and willingness to meet obligations as they become due. A credit history reflecting any or all of the following is considered unacceptable credit history:

More than one 30-day late within the past 12 months.
Bankruptcy or foreclosure discharged less than 36 months
Outstanding judgments within the past 12 months
Two or more rent payments 30 days late within the past 3 years.
Outstanding collection accounts with no payment arrangements
Outstanding tax liens or delinquent federal debt with no payment arrangements Accounts converted to collections in the past 12 months.

Mitigating Factors to Unacceptable Credit:

Adverse credit waivers may be granted for mitigating factors to establish the applicant’s intent to good credit. Lenders must document these circumstances which were beyond the borrower’s control and have been removed:

Circumstances for adverse credit were temporary in nature, beyond the applicant’s control and have been removed. Examples: increased expenses due to illness and/or medical expenses, injury, death, etc.
Tri-merge credit reports are required and must be no more than 90 days old at the time the Conditional Commitment is issued
Applicants must not be delinquent on any debts owed to the Federal Government CAIVRs must be checked and documented in the loan submission package.

UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES

(Utilizing Credit Scores)

Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Streamlined Underwriting Criteria (Credit score 620 or higher)

For borrowers with a credit score of 620 or higher, lenders may evaluate loans utilizing USDA’s streamlined underwriting guidelines.

Lender shall not be required to document adverse credit history except for those involving a delinquent federal debt or previous agency loan.
Lender shall not be required to obtain a rental history rating
No action will be necessary for any derogatory items, (i.e. no letters of explanation, unpaid collection accounts not required to be paid off, etc…)

The credit score of the primary wage earner should be given the most emphasis; however, credit scores of other applicants will also be included in the overall review of the loan request. Use the middle of three (3) scores or the lower of two (2) scores for all borrowers.

Credit score of 619 to 580

Statistically, borrowers with credit scores within this range demonstrate a higher likelihood of default and therefore, lenders should evaluate loans carefully and be cautious of layered risk in addition to the lower credit score. For example, a ratio waiver should be avoided unless strong compensating factors are present. In addition, lenders should be cautious when applicants have no rent or housing history to verify.

If an adverse credit history waiver is requested, the lender must document that the circumstance:

was temporary in nature, and
beyond the applicant’s control, and
has been removed so reoccurrence is unlikely.

Credit score of 580 or below

Statistically, borrowers with credit scores within this range have demonstrated a much higher rate of default in the GRH program. Lenders should not approve loans with credit scores of 580 and below if they exhibit any of the following:

One or more 30-day lates in the past 12 months.
Bankruptcy or foreclosure discharged less than 36 months.
Outstanding judgments within the past 12 months.
Two or more rent payments 30 days late within the past 3 years.
Outstanding collection accounts with no payment arrangements that are currently due.
Outstanding tax liens or delinquent federal debts with no payment arrangements Accounts converted to collections in the past 12 months.

Extraordinary compensating factors must be present to allow an adverse credit history waiver. Additional risk layers in addition to the lower score is not recommended.

No credit score – Non-traditional credit

No additional layers of risk are advisable for applicants with non-traditional credit. At least 4 non-traditional credit references, for a period of 12 months or more, should be developed, comprised of the following:

Rental or housing payment
Utility payment records
Insurance payments
Payments to a retail store

UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES

Debt Ratio Waivers

Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Debt ratio waivers may be requested for loans with ratios exceeding program guidelines of 29/41 when compensating factors are present in the file. Applicants with credit scores of 660 and higher do not require additional compensating factors to be identified for debt ratio waiver requests. If co-applicants have a credit score of 659 or below, additional compensating factors should be documented to further support the ratio waiver request. There is no minimum credit score required to be eligible for a debt ratio waiver request. Compensating factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

Credit score of 660 or higher for any applicant
Cash reserves after closing
Potential for increased earnings and career advancement\
Similar housing expenditure
Conservative use of credit
Additional compensation not included in qualifying income, such as part time job income that lacks a stable job history, potential bonus or commission income from a job.
Low total obligation ratio. (A low total obligation ratio does not compensate for a high PITI ratio; however, when other strong compensating factors are present a low total obligation ratio should be viewed as a positive mitigating factor.