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La Habra sits on the northern edge of Orange County. That location is key to whether USDA eligibility applies here.
USDA loans require the property to be in an eligible rural or suburban zone. La Habra's status depends on current USDA eligibility maps — verify before you build a deal around this program.
0%
Down Payment
640
Min Credit Score
1% of loan
Upfront Fee
0.35% of balance
Annual Fee
45-60 days
Est. Close Time
USDA Loans in La Habra
You need a 640 credit score for most USDA automated approvals. Below that, manual underwriting kicks in and approval gets harder.
Income limits are set by household size and county. Orange County's higher costs push those limits up slightly, but you can still get cut off faster than you'd expect.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect usda loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in La Habra.
La Habra sits on the northern edge of Orange County. That location is key to whether USDA eligibility applies here.
USDA loans require the property to be in an eligible rural or suburban zone. La Habra's status depends on current USDA eligibility maps — verify before you build a deal around this program.
You need a 640 credit score for most USDA automated approvals. Below that, manual underwriting kicks in and approval gets harder.
Most retail banks don't push USDA loans hard. They're more complex to process and take longer to close.
Working with a broker who has wholesale USDA lenders speeds things up. We run La Habra USDA files through lenders who close these regularly — not ones learning the program on your deal.
The biggest USDA mistake buyers make: assuming the property qualifies without checking. Run the address through the USDA eligibility map first.
The second mistake: ignoring the guarantee fee. USDA charges a 1% upfront fee and 0.35% annual fee. That annual fee rolls into your payment — budget for it.
FHA needs 3.5% down. Conventional needs at least 3%. USDA needs zero — that's real money back in your pocket at closing.
The tradeoff: USDA has stricter location and income rules. If you don't qualify on those, FHA is usually your next best move in La Habra.
La Habra borders Los Angeles County and is more suburban than rural. Some areas may fall outside USDA's eligible zones.
As of April 2026, buyers should pull a current USDA eligibility map for any La Habra address before going further. Zone boundaries shift and what qualified two years ago may not qualify today.
Some areas may qualify, but La Habra is suburban and not all addresses are eligible. Check the USDA property eligibility map before applying.
USDA income limits vary by household size. Orange County limits run higher than rural averages, but buyers can still exceed them. Verify your limit at USDA's site.
USDA rarely approves condos. The program favors single-family homes in eligible zones. Condos face extra hurdles most lenders won't take on.
Plan for 45-60 days. USDA requires a second approval from the agency itself, which adds time beyond standard underwriting.
USDA wins on down payment and mortgage insurance cost. But if the property or income don't qualify, FHA is the stronger backup option.