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Markleeville is one of the smallest county seats in California. That remote, rural character is exactly what USDA eligibility is built for.
Alpine County properties commonly fall within USDA's rural designation. Zero down financing is a real option here — not a long shot.
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Down Payment Required
640
Min Credit Score
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Income Limits
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USDA Loans in Markleeville
USDA requires a 640 credit score for automated underwriting. Below that, you're into manual review — harder but not impossible.
Income limits apply. Your household income must fall under the USDA limit for Alpine County. This catches some buyers off guard.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect usda loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Markleeville.
Markleeville is one of the smallest county seats in California. That remote, rural character is exactly what USDA eligibility is built for.
Alpine County properties commonly fall within USDA's rural designation. Zero down financing is a real option here — not a long shot.
USDA requires a 640 credit score for automated underwriting. Below that, you're into manual review — harder but not impossible.
Not every lender offers USDA loans. Many retail banks skip them entirely because volume is low.
We work with wholesale lenders who actively underwrite USDA files. That matters in a rural county where deal flow is thin.
USDA loans carry an upfront guarantee fee and an annual fee — both cheaper than FHA mortgage insurance. Run the numbers before defaulting to FHA.
Markleeville's inventory is thin. Get your USDA pre-approval locked in before you find a property. Sellers won't wait while you sort out eligibility.
FHA requires 3.5% down and carries higher mortgage insurance over the life of the loan. USDA has no down payment and lower ongoing fees.
VA beats both if you qualify. But for non-veterans without cash reserves, USDA is the strongest zero-down option in Markleeville.
Alpine County has fewer than 1,200 residents as of April 2026. Almost every parcel in the county qualifies as rural under USDA guidelines.
Elevation and access matter here. Lenders will scrutinize appraisals on mountain properties. Make sure your property has year-round road access.
Yes. Markleeville and most of Alpine County fall within USDA rural eligibility. Verify the specific parcel at the USDA eligibility map before applying.
USDA sets limits by household size and county. Check the current USDA income limit table for Alpine County — limits update periodically.
USDA requires no down payment and has lower mortgage insurance costs. FHA requires 3.5% down and carries higher monthly fees.
No. USDA requires the property to be your primary residence. Seasonal or vacation cabins don't qualify.
USDA loans add a rural development approval step. Plan for longer timelines than conventional loans — sometimes several weeks extra.