The USDA home loan program is limited to certain eligible areas deemed “rural” by the USDA/Rural Development. We frequently receive questions about the areas in Florida that are eligible for the program.

The USDA says that to be eligible a property must be in a rural community of fewer than 10,000 people, but there are exceptions to this rule. Some areas between 10,000 and 30,000 in a population are considered rural due to their distance from urban areas.

Questions? We are here to help 7 days a week. Please contact us by calling the number above, or just submit the short info request form on this page.

Broward, Monroe, Duval, Pinellas County and “most” of South Florida (Miami/Dade) are not eligible for USDA financing. The good news is about 80% of Florida IS eligible for USDA financing.

Some Florida USDA Mortgage Approved Locations Include:

Many locations outside of Orlando like Ocoee, Winter Garden, Kissimmee in Osceola and Polk County, may still be eligible.

Locations outside of Tampa like Riverview, Valrico, Ruskin, Sun City, Manatee County, Wesley Chapel, Odessa, and Pasco County still have approved areas.

Communities just outside of Jacksonville and Duval County, like St. John’s County outside of St. Augustine, Clay County, Green Cove Springs, and Nassau County still have eligible areas. The same applies for many locations just outside of Gainesville, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Naples and Sarasota.

You can find the latest 2025 USDA map here to view all the eligible areas nationwide and even search for a specific property address. Sometimes “less info is better” when using the map search function, input the street number, and property address with zip code only (leave out the city/state) if you are having trouble. The Florida USDA mortgage map below shows the darker shaded areas that are NOT eligible. Everything else in white is an approved area.

Please note, in order to use the program the house is not required to have a “special” designation by USDA. This means any home listing (for sale by owner, realtor, etc.) is generally perfectly fine. Remember, the actual location of the property is the key factor.

The home itself must also meet the minimum HUD standard as it relates to livability and safety, pretty much the same as other government-backed loans like FHA, etc. As long as the property is eligible according to the map, and in overall good repair, it should be eligible for financing through any USDA-approved lender, broker or bank.

Home buyers that need assistance checking a property’s eligibility should connect with us today for assistance.

Florida USDA Loan Advantages Include:

100% Financing, no down payment needed.
The buyer’s closing costs can also be paid by the home seller, thus limiting out-of-pocket expenses.
Closing costs can also be added to the buyer’s loan assuming the appraised value is high enough to support it.
Safe and secure 30-year fix rate terms with low-interest rates. USDA Rural Housing is a Government backed program with no early payoff penalty.
Not limited to strictly first-time buyers, all qualified home buyers can apply.
No special class or homebuyer education requirements required.
Lower monthly mortgage insurance costs (PMI) when compared to Conventional or FHA loans.
Lower credit scores are often accepted down to 620 for 100% financing. Even lower credit is acceptable for home buyers that have a 3.5%-5% down payment. More: Some helpful tips from FICO on how to improve your credit score.

Ready to get started or want to learn more about the USDA approval requirements? Just call us above, or submit the Info Request Form on this page 7 days a week.