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Solana Beach sits in San Diego County where the median household income of $102,285 supports homes across a wide price range. USDA loans here require the property to fall in an eligible rural area—not all Solana Beach addresses qualify.
The zero-down structure means no PMI and no funding fee like VA loans carry. Income limits cap USDA eligibility at 115% of area median—roughly $117,628 for a household in San Diego County.
6.125%
Interest Rate
$1,215
Monthly P&I
740
Min. FICO
$0
Down Payment
$117,628
Income Cap
USDA Loans in Solana Beach
USDA loans require a 740 FICO minimum to qualify at standard rates. Down payment is zero—you finance the full purchase price. The income ceiling is 115% of San Diego County's median household income, which sits at $102,285.
Debt-to-income ratio typically maxes at 41% for USDA loans. Property location is the hardest gate: not all Solana Beach addresses fall in USDA-eligible rural zones. Run the property address through USDA's eligibility map before you commit.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect usda loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Solana Beach.
Solana Beach sits in San Diego County where the median household income of $102,285 supports homes across a wide price range. USDA loans here require the property to fall in an eligible rural area—not all Solana Beach addresses qualify.
The zero-down structure means no PMI and no funding fee like VA loans carry. Income limits cap USDA eligibility at 115% of area median—roughly $117,628 for a household in San Diego County.
USDA loans require a 740 FICO minimum to qualify at standard rates. Down payment is zero—you finance the full purchase price. The income ceiling is 115% of San Diego County's median household income, which sits at $102,285.
USDA loans are less common than conventional or FHA in California because the rural-area requirement eliminates many properties. Retail lenders and brokers both offer USDA products, but availability varies.
Underwriting for USDA is straightforward once the property qualifies. No appraisal variance issues, no PMI adjustments. The main delay is confirming rural eligibility—that step can add 3-5 days to the timeline.
USDA makes sense in Solana Beach only if the property sits in an eligible rural zone and your household income is under $117,628. The zero-down structure is powerful for buyers who lack savings.
For buyers who do qualify, USDA beats FHA because there's no mortgage insurance at any price point. The 6.125% rate is competitive with conventional 20%-down loans.
FHA loans run lower rates than USDA but require mortgage insurance for life if you put down less than 10%. USDA has no insurance at any down payment. Both require strong credit (740+ FICO). FHA has no income limit; USDA caps at 115% of area median.
If your Solana Beach property qualifies for USDA and your income is under the cap, USDA wins on cost. You save the insurance premium forever.
Solana Beach is a coastal San Diego community where most properties fall outside USDA-eligible rural zones. The city's proximity to the Pacific and its developed infrastructure mean fewer addresses qualify.
San Diego County's median household income of $102,285 is high enough that many buyers exceed the USDA cap of $117,628. If you're a single earner or a household with one income, you're more likely to stay under the limit.
Not necessarily. USDA requires the property to sit in a USDA-eligible rural area. Many Solana Beach addresses don't qualify because of coastal development. Check your specific address on USDA's eligibility map at rd.usda.gov before you apply.
Your household income cannot exceed 115% of San Diego County's median household income, which is $102,285. That caps you at roughly $117,628. If you're over that, you're ineligible regardless of credit or assets.
At 6.125% APR on a $200,000 USDA 30-year fixed (740 FICO, primary residence, 30-day lock), principal and interest runs $1,215 monthly. Add property taxes, insurance, and the annual USDA fee (0.35% of loan balance) for your total payment.
No. USDA loans carry no mortgage insurance at any down payment. You do pay an annual fee of 0.35% of your loan balance, plus a 1% upfront fee rolled into the loan. Over time, the annual fee costs less than FHA's lifetime insurance.
USDA loans are designed for zero down. You can put money down, but it doesn't lower your rate or remove the annual fee. If you have savings, conventional or FHA might offer better value with a down payment.