USDA Home Loans in Swarthmore, PA

Many people assume USDA financing is only for farms. In practice, it is a home loan program for eligible households buying a primary residence in areas USDA designates as rural, which can include small towns and the outer edges of metro regions. This page explains how property and income eligibility work near Swarthmore, what the guarantee fee is and how to get started in Pennsylvania.

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Swarthmore and USDA eligibility

6,346Population

6USDA loans in Delaware County (2024)

$152,400Median household income

$633,800Median home value

Swarthmore has about 6,346 residents. USDA eligibility is set address by address, so part of the area may qualify while nearby blocks do not. Lenders recorded 6 USDA-guaranteed loans in Delaware County in 2024.

Check the Address First

USDA eligibility starts with geography. USDA Rural Development publishes an online property eligibility map, and you can type in any address to see whether it falls inside an eligible area. Boundaries are based on population and other factors and are reviewed from time to time, so a neighborhood that qualified before may not qualify later.

Run each address before you schedule a showing. A home a few streets away can land on the other side of a boundary line. If the map shows a property as ineligible, a USDA loan is off the table for that home, and your lender can help you compare other loan types instead.

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Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 912-6746. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.

Household Income Eligibility Near Swarthmore

Two income tests apply to a USDA loan. The first asks whether total household income falls within the limit for your county and household size. The second is standard underwriting: whether the borrowers' own income supports the loan alongside their other debts.

Because household income includes adults who are not borrowing, families with working adult children or other earners in the home sometimes land over the limit. Allowable deductions can help. Gather income details for everyone who will live in the home before you apply, and let your loan officer run the calculation. Limits are updated periodically, so rely on the figure your lender confirms.

Who this tends to fit

You want lower upfront cash requirements and have limited savings
You want a modest single-family home rather than a farm or large estate
You are willing to check every address against the eligibility map before touring
You are shopping in a small town, rural county or outer suburb
You prefer a program that uses a guarantee fee instead of private mortgage insurance

Local offices and Pennsylvania rules to know

Deed and mortgage recording: Delaware County Recorder of Deeds. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.

Pennsylvania's state housing finance agency is Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). Its homebuyer programs include HFA Preferred (Lo MI), Keystone Home Loan Program, Keystone Government Loan Program. These programs work through participating lenders and have their own eligibility rules. See our Pennsylvania first-time buyer programs guide.

Primary Residence Rules and the Guarantee Fee

USDA loans are for homes you will live in as your main residence. They are not used for vacation homes, rentals or investment property, and working farms or income-producing land generally do not qualify. The home should be modest for the area and meet basic standards for safety and soundness, which the appraisal reviews.

Instead of conventional mortgage insurance, USDA-backed loans carry a guarantee fee. There is an upfront fee, which can usually be financed into the loan, and an annual fee paid in monthly installments. USDA sets these fees and can change them, so look at your Loan Estimate to see how they apply to you.

Before you call

A clear answer on occupancy, since only primary residences qualify
Bank statements showing funds for closing and any reserves
Builder and lot details if you are buying new construction
Income details for every adult who will live in the home, not just borrowers
Your household size, including dependents

Questions Swarthmore borrowers ask about USDA loans

Is this website part of USDA?

No. This website is an independent consumer information resource and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development or any government agency. Most USDA-backed home loans are made by private lenders that participate in the program. USDA also runs a separate direct loan program through local Rural Development offices for lower-income applicants. We explain the options and connect you with a licensed lender.

How do I know if a home is in an eligible area?

USDA Rural Development provides an online property eligibility map where you can enter an address and see whether it qualifies. Check each specific address, since eligibility can change from one street to the next and boundaries are reviewed periodically. Your lender will confirm eligibility again during underwriting, so treat the map as a screening tool and ask your loan officer before writing an offer.

What is the USDA guarantee fee?

The guarantee fee is what borrowers pay for the USDA backing on the loan. It has an upfront portion, usually financed into the loan amount, and an annual portion divided into your monthly payments. USDA sets the fee levels and may adjust them. Your Loan Estimate will show exactly how the fee applies to your loan, so you can compare it with other options.

How does a USDA loan compare with an FHA loan?

Both can help buyers with limited savings, but they work differently. USDA limits where you can buy and how much household income you can have, while FHA has no location or household income test. Their insurance and fee structures differ, too. Many buyers in eligible areas ask a lender to compare both on side-by-side Loan Estimates, since the better fit depends on the home and the household.

Talk to a licensed loan officer

Get answers about USDA loans for a home in or around Swarthmore. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.