Guaranteed Rural Housing
Reach underserved marketsmore easily with loans guaranteed by USDA’s Rural Housing Service (RHS) under its Section 502 Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) Loan Program.
Through the GRH program you can meet the needs of rural borrowers who have the necessary income and credit history, but not the down payment required to qualify for a conventional mortgage.
Freddie Mac purchases assumable and non-assumable GRH loans through our Fixed-rate Cash, Fixed-rate Guarantor and MultiLender Swap executions. Sellers must obtain Freddie Mac approval to sell Section 502 GRH mortgages to Freddie Mac, and these mortgages must be sold with recourse.
The Section 502 GRH Loan Program allows you to broaden your market reach with a competitive affordable housing product designed specifically for rural areas, expand Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)-eligible origination volume and leverage Freddie Mac as your secondary market outlet for GRH loans.
Who are Guaranteed Rural Housing loans for?
- Borrowers who want flexible guidelines on down payment and reserve requirements.
- People who need closing costs to be included in the loan amount under certain circumstances, subject to GRH Section 502 program restrictions.
- Borrowers who want additional flexibility with no cash-out refinancing as permitted under the GRH Section 502 program.
The information on this page is not part of, and is not a replacement or substitute for, the requirements found in the Freddie Mac Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide and your other Purchase Documents.
Product Features
- Borrower Eligibility/Borrower Profile
Determined by RHS requirements
- Credit Fees
- Sellers must refer to Guide Exhibit 19 and/or their negotiated terms of business for Credit Fees in Price applicable for these mortgages.
- Credit Fees in Price are paid according to the Credit Fee in Price provisions stated in Guide Section 6303.
- Delivery Requirements
See Guide Section 6302.15 for special delivery instructions for all Guaranteed Rural Housing Mortgages.
- Eligibility/Underwriting
- Assumable mortgages must be sold to Freddie Mac with recourse within the meaning of Guide Section 6201.7(a). Effective for mortgages with settlement dates on or after June 1, 2012, non-assumable mortgages must also be sold with recourse.
- The LTV/TLTV ratios must comply with the Guaranteed Regulations for LTV/TLTV ratios.
- The LTV/TLTV ratio cannot exceed 115 percent using the Freddie Mac calculation of LTV based on the lower of purchase price or appraised value and other requirements in Guide Section 4203.2.
- A non-assumable Rural Housing Service Section 502 GRH Mortgage must have a minimum Indicator Score of 620 or if no borrower has a usable credit score, the mortgage is eligible without meeting the minimum Indicator Score requirement when underwritten using nontraditional credit. Effective for mortgages with settlement dates on or after June 1, 2012, this requirement will no longer apply.
- Secondary financing is generally not permitted.
- The mortgage must have a guarantee provided by RHS. Private mortgage insurance is not required.
- The mortgaged premises securing FHA and VA mortgages and assumable Section 502 GRH Mortgages may be transferred in accordance with applicable FHA, RHS or VA regulations.
- Original loan amount may not exceed Freddie Mac loan limits or any RHS loans limits for this program, whichever is less.
- Underwriting requirements are based on RHS program requirements and take into consideration the unique needs of borrowers in rural locations. See the GRH program requirements for more information.
- Eligible Mortgage Products
Assumable, Non-assumable and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages
- Execution Options
Fixed-rate Cash servicing-retained, Fixed-rate Guarantor, and MultiLender Swap
- Property Type/Eligible Properties
- Primary residences, including single-family dwellings, condominiums, planned unit developments (PUDs) and eligible manufactured homes.
- Non-farm
- Leasehold and rehabilitated properties
- Property must meet the rural designation as defined by RHS
- Transaction Type
- Purchase transactions and no cash-out refinances, subject to Section 502 GRH Loan Program guidelines
- 30-year fixed-rate mortgages
- Non Loan Product Advisor℠ mortgages only
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