Florida home buyers utilizing the USDA Rural Housing program should take note of new changes coming to the approved, eligible housing map. USDA loans offer qualified home buyers 100% mortgage opportunities in approved “rural” locations throughout the U.S.

Periodically USDA will update the locations deemed “rural” and eligible for the program. Buyers in Florida (and nationwide) should read the information below and check the links to ensure their property is in fact still eligible. Buyers can read the list of common USDA Loan FAQ’s here and contact us with any questions. Please call the number above, or just submit the short Info Request Form on this page.

USDA Rural Development has completed its periodic review of all areas under its jurisdiction to identify areas that no longer qualify as rural for USDA Rural Housing mortgage. Based on the review of the areas within the state of Florida, using the 2015 American Community Survey data, and rural area guidance located in Handbook HB-1-3550, Chapter 5.

The changes became effective on June 4, 2018 and should remain the same through 2023. Areas that are no longer considered rural or “rural in character” and that will not be eligible for the USDA Rural Housing Programs can be viewed at https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do by clicking “Single Family Housing Guaranteed”, and then selecting “Proposed Ineligible Areas” tab. Buyers can input their new property address to check eligibility using the link above. Just input the street number, street name, and zip code. Sometimes it helps to leave out the city name and state.

The rural eligibility designation has changed for the following locations in Fla:

1) Currently Ineligible Cities/Places with Population over 35,000 – Areas annexed to the city, contiguous densely populated areas, and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Gainesville, Ocala, Titusville, Palm Coast, Plant City, Bradenton, Apopka, Ocoee, St. Cloud, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Winter Haven, North Port, Oviedo, Sanford, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, The Villages, Daytona Beach, Deltona, Port Orange

2) Currently Ineligible that have Expanded City Limits – Contiguous densely populated areas and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Estero, Lake Butler, Horizon West, Belle Glade, Deland, Edgewater

3) Currently Eligible but Population has Increased to Over 35,000 – City limits, contiguous densely populated areas and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Winter Garden

4) Currently Eligible Cities/Places Contiguous to Ineligible Areas – City limits and contiguous densely populated areas

Gonzalez, Panama City Beach and contiguous Laguna Beach

5) Currently Eligible Cities and Parts of Cities that have a population density of 1,000 people per square mile, located in an MSA, and have a population greater than 10,000, along with contiguous densely populated areas

Lynn Haven, Callaway, Port St. John, Punta Gorda, Naples, Golden Gate, Marco Island, Fish Hawk, Sun City Center, Sebastian, Lady Lake (north portion), Eustis, Tavares, Mount Dora, Clermont, San Carlos Park, Palmetto, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Niceville, Destin, Land O’Lakes, Trinity, Midway, Navarre, Winter Springs, Palm Valley, Fruit Cove, Lakewood Park, Orange City

6) Miami-Dade County – Entire county

See below for a short description of proposed changes by County in Florida.

The rural eligibility designation will change for the following Florida cities/towns/places and contiguous densely populated areas, effective June 4, 2018:

Alachua County

Gainesville – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city

Bay County

Panama City Beach and contiguous Laguna Beach
Lynn Haven and contiguous areas west to North Bay, east to North Bay, and southeast to US 23
Callaway and contiguous areas north to power easement and east to Callaway Bayou

Brevard County

Port St. John and the contiguous area north and west to I-95
Titusville – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city

Charlotte County

Punta Gorda and contiguous developments west of US 41

Collier County

Naples and contiguous areas north to the county line, east to I-75 and Collier Blvd, south to Marco Island, and west to the coast
Golden Gate city limits
Marco Island city limits

Duval County

Atlantic Beach – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city
Jacksonville Beach – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city

Escambia County

Gonzalez CDP and contiguous areas west to power easement and southeast to county line

Flagler County

Palm Coast – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Hillsborough County

Fish Hawk CDP limits
Sun City Center CDP limits
Plant City – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Indian River County

Sebastian city limits and contiguous areas north and west to Sebastian River, and east to the coast

Lake County

Lady Lake town limits north of CR 466 and areas surrounded by town limits
Eustis city limits south of CR 44 and areas surrounded by city limits
Tavares city limits north of Milwaukee Avenue and east of Dead River to Mount Dora city limits, and areas surrounded by city limits
Mount Dora city limits west of Britt Road and US 441 and areas surrounded by city limits
Clermont city limits

Lee County

San Carlos Park CDP limits and east to electric power easement pass Florida Gulf Coast University
Estero village limits – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city

Manatee County

Palmetto city limits and contiguous areas west to the coast, east to I-75 and northeast to 39^th Street East
Bradenton city – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Marion County

Ocala city – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
The Villages – Already ineligible plus contiguous areas east to SE 130th Avenue and north to CR 42

Martin County

Jensen Beach CDP limits and contiguous areas west to county line and east to the coast
Stuart city limits, areas surrounded by ineligible areas and contiguous areas east to the coast, south to Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park (CR 76 A) , and west to St. Lucie Canal
Palm City CDP limits and contiguous area east to Stuart city limits
Hobe Sound CDP limits and contiguous area north to Stuart city limits

Miami Dade County – the entire county

Okaloosa County

Niceville city limits and contiguous areas east to FL 293, southeast to county line, west to county line, southwest to currently ineligible areas pass county line and south to the coast
Destin city limits and contiguous areas north to the bay and Miramar Beach to the east

Orange County

Apopka city – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Ocoee – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Winter Garden – City limits and areas surrounded by city limits
Lake Butler – A portion is already ineligible plus contiguous areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Horizon West – A portion is already ineligible plus contiguous area west to FL 429

Osceola

Cloud – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Kissimmee – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Palm Beach

Belle Glade city – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city

Pasco County

Land O’ Lakes CDP limits south of Tower Road
Trinity CDP – A portion is already ineligible plus contiguous area to east boundary of Trinity Memorial Gardens

Polk County

Lakeland – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Winter Haven – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Santa Rosa County:

Midway CDP limits and south to the coast
Navarre CDP limits and contiguous areas east to ineligible area in Okaloosa County

Sarasota County

North Port – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city, areas surrounded by ineligible areas, and contiguous Warm Mineral Springs

Seminole County

Oviedo – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Sanford – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Winter Springs city limits

St. Johns County

Palm Valley CDP limits and east to the coast
Fruit Cove CDP limits

St. Lucie County

Lakewood Park CDP limits and east to the coast
Port St. Lucie – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Fort Pierce – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

Sumter County

The Villages – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city, areas surrounded by ineligible areas, and the contiguous area north to the county line

Volusia County

Daytona Beach – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Port Orange – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city, contiguous area west to Spruce Creek, and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Deland – Contiguous areas to the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Edgewater city – Contiguous areas to the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas
Orange City limits and all areas surrounded by city limits
Deltona – All areas annexed by the already ineligible city and areas surrounded by ineligible areas

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