Independence and scope

About this USDA mortgage education site

Learn where independent USDA mortgage education ends and lender and USDA review begins.

Last reviewed: July 14, 2026
Program scope: Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

Direct answer

USDA Mortgage is a privately operated educational website, not the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development, or another government agency. It can organize public program information and point readers to official tools. It cannot determine whether a person, household, property, or loan qualifies; approve a loan; reserve funds; issue a rate; or replace review by an approved private lender and USDA.

What this site is intended to do

Explain durable concepts

The guides separate property-area eligibility, household income eligibility, credit review, costs, and process so a reader can identify the right official check.

Use primary sources

Program claims should trace to USDA Rural Development, the official USDA eligibility site, the current regulation, or the current program handbook.

State the limits

Maps and public explanations are screening resources. A complete scenario still requires documentation, underwriting, property review, and final program verification.

What this site does not establish

That an address is finally eligible based only on a map view or county name.
That household income is eligible without the current official limit, household composition, income sources, and applicable deductions.
That a credit score, debt ratio, or other single factor guarantees approval.
That an example fee, payment, timeline, or loan amount applies to an individual transaction.
That USDA Guaranteed and USDA Direct loans use the same application path or rules.

How the Guaranteed program differs from the Direct program

This education package is about the USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. Under that program, an approved private lender originates and underwrites the mortgage, and USDA provides a loan-note guarantee when program requirements are satisfied. USDA also offers Direct housing programs administered through USDA, but those are different programs with separate processes and rules. Readers should use the exact program label when consulting an official tool or source.

Who operates this site

USDA Mortgage is operated for Hicks Mortgage Solutions by Anthony Hicks, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS ID 201527. Hicks Mortgage Solutions serves Kentucky, Ohio, and Arizona and is powered by Loan Factory, NMLS ID 320841. This site is not USDA or Rural Development.

For questions, call (502) 390-7844.

Official sources checked

Sources were re-opened for this page on July 14, 2026. The current source controls if this summary conflicts with official guidance.