2026 update: USDA Rural Housing (Section 502 Guaranteed) is still a zero-down option in many Kentucky counties. The two big “gatekeepers” remain property eligibility (must be in an eligible rural area) and household income limits (must be within USDA’s limit for the county and household size). Kentucky USDA Mortgage Loan Requirements Kentucky USDA Rural Housing (USDA Guaranteed) loans are designed to help buyers purchase a primary residence with 100% financing in eligible rural areas. If you want the short version: the home must be in an eligible area, your total household income must be under the USDA limit for that county and household size, and the file must underwrite clean through USDA/GUS (or be eligible for a manual underwrite). 1) Property eligibility: rural area requirement One of the biggest USDA requirements is that the property be located in a USDA-eligible area. In Kentucky, many areas outside the largest metro zones qualify, while ma...
