USDA LINC Training & Resource Library OLD

When preparing file specific questions, be sure to include the following information in your email:

• Identify the state the application is located; if applicable;
• Provide applicant’s name and USDA borrower ID, if applicable;
• GUS loan number, if applicable
• Include contact information; and
• Indicate if you would like a call back (otherwise you will receive an email reply)

Send your questions to the appropriate production team. Each state is assigned a production team. The production team email addresses and the assigned states are listed below. 

Download the Full GRH Contact Sheet

Production Teams	States
Production Team One SFHGLPONE@usda.gov	AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, GU, HI, IA, ID, KS, MT, NM, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WP, WV, WY
Production Team Two SFHGLPTWO@usda.gov	AR, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OK
Production Team Three SFHGLPTHREE@usda.gov	CT, DE, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, RI, SC, VT, WV
Production Team Four SFHGLPFOUR@usda.gov	FL, IN, OH, PA, PR, TN, VA, VI

Training

New**

Hot Tips for Successful Loan Submissions  Webcast (11 mins)   Slides with Notes

 

Loan Program Basics

Become an Approved Lender   Webcast (13 mins)   Slides with Notes  

Program Overview Training  Webcast (16 mins)   Slides with Notes

Loan Terms  Webcast (8 mins)   Slides with Notes

Loan Purposes and Restrictions  Webcast (11 mins)   Slides with Notes

Refinance Webcast (9 mins)   Slides with Notes

 

Applicant Eligibility

Applicant Eligibility Webcast (13 mins)   Slides with Notes

Annual Income  Webcast (12 mins)   Slides with Notes

Assets  Webcast (14 mins)   Slides with Notes

Adjusted Annual Income  Webcast (12 mins)  Slides with Notes

Repayment Income Webcast (13 mins)   Slides with Notes

Credit Analysis  Webcast (24 mins)   Slides with Notes

Ratio Analysis  Webcast (12 mins)   Slides with Notes

 

Property Eligibility

Property Eligibility  Webcast (9 mins)   Slides with Notes

Appraisals  Webcast (10 mins)   Slides with Notes

Existing Dwelling Requirements and Escrow Repair Accounts  Webcast (9 mins)   Slides with Notes

New Construction  Webcast (8 mins)   Slides with Notes

Combination Construction to Permanent Loans "Single Close"  Webcast (12 mins)   Slides with Notes

Rehabilitation and Repair Loans  Webcast (15 mins)   Slides with Notes

Special Properties: Condominiums and PUDs  Webcast (8 mins)   Slides with Notes

Manufactured Homes  Webcast (9 mins)   Slides with Notes

Site Requirements  Webcast (8 mins)   Slides with Notes

Ownership Requirements  Webcast (10 mins)   Slides with Notes

Environmental Requirements and Flood Insurance  Webcast (6 mins)   Slides with Notes

 

Loan Processing and Closing

Submit a Complete Loan Application  Webcast (21 mins)   Slides with Notes

Upfront Guarantee Fee and Annual Fee  Webcast (18 mins)   Slides with Notes

Conditional Commitment  Webcast (12 mins)   Slides with Notes

Loan Note Guarantee and Indemnification  Webcast (15 mins)   Slides with Notes

Mediation and Appeals  Webcast (12 mins)   Slides with Notes

New**

• COVID-19 FAQs
• New GUS Handbook and Form Highlighted Revisions
• Capital Financial Requirements for Non-Regulated Lenders

Documents & Resources

1. 3555 Handbook (PDF)
2. 3555 Regulation - 7 CFR 3555  (PDF)
3. FAQ Loan Origination (PDF)
4. Form RD 3555-21 Request for Loan Guarantee (PDF)
5. GRH Loan Checklist -- Attachment 15-A  (PDF)
6. GRH Income Worksheet -- Attachment 9-B (PDF)
7. Guaranteed and Annual Fee Calculation Guidance  (PDF)
8. Income Matrix (PDF)
9. Refinance Matrix (PDF)
10. Sample Worksheet for Calculating Maximum Loan (PDF)

Documentation and Resources

1. GUS Lender User Guide
2. GUS File Import Guide
3. Application Timeline Matrix
4. Legacy GUS Application Pipeline Management Flow Chart
5.  Pop-Up Information (PDF)
6. Gaining Access to GUS
7.  GUS User Agreement & Training Cert
8.  Lender Agent Access to GUS
9.  SFHGLP System Access and Security Guide   
10. Lender Request for Branch Addition/Modification

Training

1. How to Become a GUS Lender and Set Up Users

• How to Become a GUS Lender and Set Up Users (PDF Training Handout)

2. GUS Overview

• GUS Overview (PDF Training Handout)

3. GUS Updates

• GUS Updates (PDF Training Handout)

4. GUS Basic Navigation and User Roles

• GUS Basic Navigation and User Roles (PDF Training Handout)

5. Loan Application

• Loan Application (PDF Training Handout)

6. Eligibility Page

• Eligibility Page (PDF Training Handout)

7. Borrower Information Page

• Borrower Information Page (PDF Training Handout)

8. Assets and Liabilities Page

• Assets and Liabilities Page (PDF Training Handout)

9. Real Estate Page

• Real Estate Page (PDF Training Handout)

10. Loan & Property Page

• Loan & Property Page (PDF Training Handout)

11. Declarations & Demographics Page

• Declarations & Demographics Page (PDF Training Handout)

12. Loan Originator & Lender Loan Information Page

• Loan Originator & Lender Loan Information Page (PDF Training Handout)

13. Additional Data Page

• Additional Data Page (PDF Training Handout)

14. Credit Underwriting & View Findings Page

• Credit Underwriting & View Findings Page (PDF Training Handout)

15. Application Documents & Requests Forms Page

• Application Documents & Request Forms Page (PDF Training Handout)

16. New URLA GUS Conversion for Application Processing (Webcast) 8 minutes

• Slide with notes (Training Handout)

We are excited to share that the USDA Section 502 Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) has built a new Guaranteed Underwriting System (GUS) to support:

• the new Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA);
• the Uniform Loan Application Dataset (ULAD); and
• to modernize GUS.

To support our valued lending partners, we encourage you to participate in the ongoing effort of testing GUS.

Testing participation will allow approved lenders to:

• access the new GUS Lender Test Environment (GUS LTE)
• test your loan originations system new URLA FNMA DU 3.4 v 1.8.1 export file using GUS LTE import functionality

Get started now! Complete, execute, and return the required GUS LTE Addendum to the GUS User Agreement (see below for link to the Addendum). 

Once your executed addendum is received by USDA’s GUS Systems Integration team, we will

• review and provide confirmation you have been approved to begin testing, and
• set up your approved LTE SA (lender test environment security administrator) with the privileges to provide your testers access to GUS LTE, manage their GUS LTE roles, and start testing. 

Please review the below documents designed to answer most of your questions and outline content required to get started. If you need additional assistance please email SFHGSystemIntegration@usda.gov.

URLA GUS Open Lender Testing Overview

1. Lender Testing in GUS LTE  (PDF)

2. USDA Lender Testing Readiness Checklist (PDF)

3. USDA URLA FAQ  (PDF)

Gaining Access to USDA GUS Lender Test Environment (GUS LTE)

1. GUS LTE User Agreement v1.1 to GUS User Agreement (REQUIRED) (PDF)
2. USDA Lender Test eAuthentication Account Creation Instructions (REQUIRED) (PDF)**
   **Note: production accounts cannot be used in the test environment.
   Each tester and SA must create a registered TEST eAuthentication account.
3. USDA Lender Security Administrator Instructions (REQUIRED) (PDF)
4. USDA GUS LTE Password and User ID Support (PDF);

USDA GUS LTE Testing Tools

1. USDA Recommended Test Cases (PDF)
   • USDA Lender Test Cases (PDF)
2. Importing Your Lender OS File into GUS LTE - Business Rule and Validation Error Handling (Excel) 

Documentation & Resources

1. Lender Loan Closing (LLC) Agreement Fillable (PDF)
2. Lender Loan Closing (LLC) Guide (PDF)
3. Chapter 16: Non-Electronic Loan Closing Paper Check Guide (PDF)

Documentation & Resources

1. Guaranteed Annual Fee Calculation Methodology (PDF)
2. Guarantee Fee & Annual Fee Calculator(EXCEL)
3. Guaranteed Annual Fee Lender User Agreement (PDF)
4. Guaranteed Annual Fee Service Bureau User Agreement (PDF)
5. Guaranteed Annual Fee Implementation Guide (PDF)
6. Guaranteed Annual Fee Getting Started User Guide (PDF)
7. Guaranteed Annual Fee User Guide (PDF)

Training

Introduction to Electronic Status Reporting (ESR) (Webcast)  10 Minutes

• Introduction to ESR slide with notes (Training Handout)

ESR Web Reporting (Webcast)  11 Minutes

• ESR Web Reporting slide with notes (Training Handout)

ESR Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Reporting (Webcast)  11 Minutes

• ESR EDI Reporting slide with notes (Training Handout) 

ESR Rejection and Correction Reporting (Webcast) 12 Minutes

• ESR Rejections and Corrections slide with notes (Training Handout)

Documentation & Resources

1. ESR User Guide (PDF) - revised June, 2018
2. ESR Implementation Guide for the July 1, 2018 Effective Date (PDF) - revised April, 2018
3. ESR Implementation Guide Release Notes for the July 1, 2018 Effective Date (PDF) - revised May, 2018
4. Trading Partner Agreement
5. Delinquency Default Status Codes - August 2022

Loss Claim Administration and Servicing

New**

CARES Act: Important Servicing Notice for Current USDA Guaranteed Loan Holders

CARES Act: Important Notice for Lenders Servicing USDA Guaranteed Loans

Documentation & Resources

1. Guaranteed Servicing Contact Information (PDF)
2. Trading Partner Agreement - Addendum E (PDF)
3. Quick Reference Upload Loss Claim Documents (PDF)
4. Loss Claim Administration User Guide (PDF)

Loss Mitigation

Training

Avoid Foreclosure (Webcast) 19 minutes

• Avoid Foreclosure: slide with notes (Training Handout)

Documentation & Resources

1. Loss Mitigation Servicer User Guide (PDF)
2. RD Special Loan Servicing Final Rule (PDF)
3. RD Special Loan Servicing Job Aid (PDF)
4. Quick Reference Upload Loss Mitigation Documents(PDF)
5. Loss Mitigation User Agreement(PDF)

Property Disposition

Documentation & Resources

1.  Property Disposition and Document Upload Servicer User Guide (PDF)

 

Additional Lender Security

SFHGLP System Access and Security Guide

Lender Request for Branch Addition/Modification