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Fort Jones sits in Scott Valley — deep rural Siskiyou County. That geography is exactly why USDA loans exist.
Most of Siskiyou County qualifies for USDA Rural Development financing. Fort Jones is no exception.
0%
Down Payment
640 typical
Min Credit Score
1% of loan
Upfront Guarantee Fee
0.35%
Annual Fee
45-60 days
Est. Close Time
USDA Loans in Fort Jones
USDA has two hard requirements: the property must be in an eligible rural area, and your income must stay under the county limit.
Credit standards are flexible. Most lenders want a 640 score, but we have access to programs that go lower with compensating factors.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect usda loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Fort Jones.
Fort Jones sits in Scott Valley — deep rural Siskiyou County. That geography is exactly why USDA loans exist.
Most of Siskiyou County qualifies for USDA Rural Development financing. Fort Jones is no exception.
USDA has two hard requirements: the property must be in an eligible rural area, and your income must stay under the county limit.
Most big banks don't touch USDA loans. They're not profitable enough at volume for retail lenders.
We work with 200+ wholesale lenders. Several specialize in rural California USDA deals — that's where Fort Jones borrowers win.
The USDA guarantee fee rolls into your loan. There's an upfront fee and an annual fee — similar to FHA's MIP structure.
USDA loans take longer to close than conventional. Budget 45-60 days. Siskiyou County appraisals can add time too — rural appraisers are scarce.
FHA requires 3.5% down. VA is zero down but requires military service. USDA is the only zero-down option for civilian buyers in rural areas.
Conventional loans with less than 20% down carry PMI. USDA's annual fee is usually cheaper than PMI on a comparable loan size.
Scott Valley properties can include outbuildings, acreage, and ag land. USDA has strict rules on what it will and won't finance.
Income limits in Siskiyou County reflect local wages — not Bay Area numbers. That makes qualifying here more realistic than in most of California.
Yes. Fort Jones qualifies as a rural area under USDA guidelines. Verify the specific property address on the USDA eligibility map before making an offer.
USDA sets limits by household size for each county. Siskiyou limits are set for local income levels — contact us to run your numbers fast.
Not standalone land. The loan must finance a primary residence. Modest acreage with a home is usually fine — large farming operations are not.
USDA requires zero down and has income limits. FHA requires 3.5% down and has no income cap. Both work in Fort Jones — your financials decide which fits.
Not exactly. There's a 1% upfront guarantee fee and a 0.35% annual fee. It's structured like insurance but cheaper than FHA MIP over the loan term.
Plan for 45-60 days. Rural appraisers are limited in Siskiyou County, and USDA adds a review layer that conventional loans skip.