The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development raised its income limits in Nebraska June 8, 2022, widening the scope of who is an eligible applicant for the organization’s 502 Direct and 502 Guarantee Home Loan Programs, and 504 Home Repair Program, all of which help low-income Americans purchase or repair a home in rural counties.
In Nebraska, the income limits for the 504-owner occupied home repair program range from $39,300-$48,250 for a household of 1-4 persons, dependent on household size and county. For the 502 home purchase programs, a household of 1-4 persons, can earn up to $76,100-$111,000; dependent on household size and county. Larger income limits exist for larger families with five to eight members in the household.
For example, the largest increase for 502 Direct Home Loan income limits occurred in Seward, where a family of four can now make $77,200; an increase of $8,150 more than last year’s income limits. In Stanton, Pierce, Perkins, Otoe, and Fillmore counties the increase was more than $7,000 for each county.
“This was a needed change,” said Krista Mettscher, director, Single-Family Housing Programs, Nebraska. “Raising the income limits will increase the number of Nebraskans we are able to help finance a home purchase or repair an existing home in rural areas of the state. We are all feeling the pressure in the housing market right now with high prices, and now higher interest rates. I’m glad to see our government understands the challenges facing society and is making our programs more accessible to a greater number of people.”
To date in Fiscal Year 2022, the Nebraska Single Family Housing Team has helped 32 families purchase or re-finance their homes for nearly $4 million, and 14 homeowners with home repairs, for more than $100,000. Together, with the 502 Guaranteed home purchase program, Rural Development has helped a total of 540 families purchase or refinance their homes, investing more than $76 million in rural Nebraska communities.
Both the 502 Direct and the 502 Guaranteed programs offer 100% financing for home purchase in eligible rural areas. USDA RD asks buyers, realtors, and lenders to consider USDA Rural Development programs for rural home purchases. More information is available at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs. Eligibility criteria https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do .
To contact the Nebraska Single – Family Housing team directly for more information, or to request an application, interested parties can e-mail the team at: SM.RD.NE.SFHQST@usda.gov , or call 402-437-5551, extension 1.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ne.
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