Requirements for all refinance loans
Current loan must be a 502 direct or guaranteed
loan
30 year loan term
Fixed interest rate at or below the current interest
rate and must not exceed the maximum limit set
forth in 3555.104(a)
Late fees are not eligible to be included in the new
loan amount
Subsidy recapture may be paid or subordinated to
the new first lien (direct loans only)
Cash out from collateral equity is not an eligible
loan purpose.
The loan must have closed 12 months prior to
loan application for the refinance
Property must be owner occupied
Household must meet applicable adjusted annual
household limit
Properties located in ineligible rural areas remain
eligible for refinance
USDA Leveraged Loans are ineligible
Remaining funds at loan closing that may occur
due to final real estate tax and/or insurance
calculations may be returned to the borrower at
loan closing.
Requirement Non‐streamlined Streamlined Streamlined‐assist
Appraisal Yes Only for direct loans that
received subsidy to
calculate recapture
Only for direct loans that
received subsidy to
calculate recapture
Maximum Loan
Amount, eligible loan
costs listed
Cannot exceed new
appraised value.
Principal & Interest
Closing costs
Funds to establish tax
and insurance escrow
Upfront guarantee fee
Subsidy recapture due
Cannot exceed original loan
amount.
Principal & Interest
Re‐conveyance fee
Upfront guarantee fee
New loan amount may
include:
Principal & Interest
Closing costs
Funds to establish tax
and insurance escrow
Upfront guarantee fee
Add/Remove
Borrowers (one
original borrower must
remain)
Yes Yes Add borrowers only
Only deceased
borrowers may be
removed
Credit Loan paid as agreed 180
days prior to loan
application
Requirements of
Chapter 10
Loan paid as agreed 180
days prior to loan
application
Requirements of
Chapter 10
Loan paid as agreed 12
months prior to loan
application
2
Requirement Non‐streamlined Streamlined Streamlined‐assist
Ratios GUS Accept, no debt
ratio waiver required
GUS Refer, debt ratio
waiver to meet HB
Chapter 11
GUS Accept, no debt
ratio waiver required
GUS Refer, debt ratio
waiver to meet HB
Chapter 11
No ratio calculation
required
Can GUS be utilized? Yes Yes No
Include subsidy
recapture?
Yes, if appraised value
supports
No No
Net tangible benefit
required?
No No Yes
$50 or greater reduction
in new PITI (including
annual fee) as compared
to current PITI payment
Subordinate “silent”
seconds or subsidy
recapture due?
Yes Yes Yes
Resources
The following resources are available:
7 CFR Part 3555: https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/3555‐1appendix01.pdf
HB‐1‐3555: https://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations‐guidelines/handbooks#hb13555
USDA LINC Training and Resource Library:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs‐services/lenders/usda‐linc‐training‐resource‐library
Property and Income Eligibility: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do
List of USDA State Office e‐mail boxes to deliver manually underwritten loan files or manual loan closing submissions:
https://usdalinc.sc.egov.usda.gov/docs/rd/sfh/lenderloanclosing/lender/Electronic_Doc_Delivery_Non_GUS_loans.pdf
Questions regarding direct loan subsidy recapture may contact the USDA Customer Service Center (CSC): 1‐800‐414‐
1226
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Section 502 Single Family Housing Options to Refinance Direct and Guaranteed Loans
General
Content
Integrations