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Ojai sits in a quiet mountain valley in Ventura County. That rural character is exactly what makes USDA loans worth looking at here.
USDA eligibility depends on property location, not just income. Many Ojai addresses fall within USDA-designated rural zones.
0%
Down Payment
640 preferred
Min Credit Score
1% of loan amount
Upfront Guarantee Fee
~0.35% of balance
Annual MIP
30-45 days
Typical Close Time
USDA Loans in Ojai
USDA loans have two hard requirements: the property must be in an eligible area, and your income must fall below the local limit.
Most lenders want a 640 credit score for USDA. Below that, manual underwriting kicks in — slower, harder, but not impossible.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect usda loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Ojai.
Ojai sits in a quiet mountain valley in Ventura County. That rural character is exactly what makes USDA loans worth looking at here.
USDA eligibility depends on property location, not just income. Many Ojai addresses fall within USDA-designated rural zones.
USDA loans have two hard requirements: the property must be in an eligible area, and your income must fall below the local limit.
Not every lender does USDA. Plenty of banks don't bother — volume is too low for them to keep it approved.
At SRK CAPITAL, we work with 200+ wholesale lenders. We know which ones actually close USDA deals in Ventura County.
The biggest mistake I see: buyers assume they don't qualify because Ojai feels expensive. Income limits are higher than people expect in Ventura County.
USDA has two loan types — guaranteed and direct. Most buyers use guaranteed. Direct is for very low incomes and goes through USDA itself.
FHA needs 3.5% down. Conventional needs at least 3%. USDA needs zero. For buyers short on cash, that gap is significant.
USDA mortgage insurance costs less than FHA's over time. If you qualify for both, run the numbers — USDA often wins.
Ojai's property values run high for a rural area. That can push buyers over income limits or into jumbo territory — verify both before applying.
As of April 2026, USDA rural maps haven't reclassified most of Ojai. But maps do get updated — confirm eligibility at the time of application.
Much of Ojai falls within USDA rural eligibility zones. Confirm your specific address on the USDA property eligibility map before making an offer.
Ventura County limits are higher than the national baseline. Exact caps depend on household size — we can check your number fast.
Yes. USDA guaranteed loans require no down payment. You still pay closing costs, though some can be rolled in or covered by seller concessions.
USDA loans typically take 30-45 days, sometimes longer. The loan goes through an extra USDA review step that adds time.
The property must be in decent condition to pass USDA's standards. Major fixer-uppers usually don't clear the appraisal requirements.
There's a 1% upfront guarantee fee and an annual fee around 0.35%. The upfront fee rolls into your loan — you don't pay it at closing.