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USDA loans require the property to be in an eligible rural or suburban area. San Francisco proper does not qualify.
The USDA eligibility map draws a hard line around dense urban cores. San Francisco County falls entirely outside it.
USDA Loans in San Francisco
USDA loans offer zero down payment for qualified borrowers. But location eligibility comes before anything else.
Most lenders want a 640 credit score for USDA. Income limits apply — your household income must stay under area maximums.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect usda loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in San Francisco.
USDA loans require the property to be in an eligible rural or suburban area. San Francisco proper does not qualify.
The USDA eligibility map draws a hard line around dense urban cores. San Francisco County falls entirely outside it.
USDA loans offer zero down payment for qualified borrowers. But location eligibility comes before anything else.
We work with 200+ wholesale lenders at SRK CAPITAL. None of them can make a USDA loan work inside San Francisco city limits.
USDA programs have strong lender participation in eligible California areas. Just not here.
Buyers sometimes ask us about USDA after seeing the zero-down benefit. In San Francisco, that conversation ends fast.
If you want zero-down options in the Bay Area, VA loans or CalHFA programs are the real paths worth exploring.
FHA loans work inside San Francisco with just 3.5% down and a 580 credit score. That's the closest alternative.
VA loans beat USDA on almost every measure for eligible veterans — zero down, no mortgage insurance, no income cap.
San Francisco median prices put most properties well above USDA loan limits anyway. The program wasn't designed for this market.
Buyers priced out of San Francisco sometimes look at Solano or San Joaquin counties. Those areas do have USDA-eligible zones.
No. San Francisco County is not USDA-eligible. The program requires rural or suburban property locations.
VA loans are the strongest zero-down option for eligible veterans. CalHFA programs can also cover down payment costs.
Some outer areas in Solano and San Joaquin counties have eligible zones. Use the USDA eligibility map to check specific addresses.
Most lenders require a 640 score for USDA loans. Below that, manual underwriting may be required.
FHA is the most common low-down alternative. VA is better if you qualify. Ask us to compare both for your situation.