USDA Rural Development Loans · Calvert · Charles · St. Mary's · Maryland

100% Financing in Southern Maryland. USDA Loans for Southern Maryland Home Buyers.

Large portions of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties qualify for USDA Rural Development, one of the only true zero-down mortgage programs available today. I check your address at no cost in minutes.

Find My Mortgage Path Check an Address / Scenario

$0 down paymentLow 0.35% annual MIPRural & suburban eligibleSouthern Maryland specialist

Ken Powell

Mortgage Loan Officer · Fairway Home Mortgage

NMLS #2656628 · Equal Housing Lender

Southern Maryland Eligible Areas

More of Southern Maryland Qualifies Than You Think.

USDA eligibility is based on the USDA's rural map, not whether an area looks rural. Many Southern Maryland communities that feel suburban are officially designated rural.

Calvert County

Much of Calvert County qualifies, including areas around Huntingtown, Owings, Port Republic, Chesapeake Beach surroundings, and rural communities throughout the county.

✓Huntingtown & surrounding areas
✓Owings & Port Republic
✓Prince Frederick surrounding areas
✓Northern Calvert rural communities

Charles County

Outside the Waldorf/La Plata urban core, significant portions qualify, including Indian Head, Port Tobacco, Newburg, Pomfret, and surrounding rural areas.

✓Indian Head & Port Tobacco
✓Newburg & Pomfret
✓Hughesville & Waldorf outskirts
✓Rural eastern Charles County

St. Mary's County

Large portions of St. Mary's are USDA-eligible, including many communities within easy commuting distance of NAS Patuxent River and the Lexington Park employment corridor.

✓California & Great Mills surroundings
✓Leonardtown & surrounding areas
✓Hollywood & Mechanicsville
✓Rural St. Mary's communities

USDA vs. FHA vs. Conventional

Why USDA Is Often the Best Option for Eligible Southern Maryland Buyers.

Feature	USDA	FHA	Conventional
Down payment	$0 (0%)	3.5 to 10%	3 to 20%
Upfront fee	1.0% (financed)	1.75% MIP	None
Monthly insurance	0.35%/yr	0.55%/yr	0 to 0.65% (drops at 20% equity)
Min credit score	620+	500 to 580+	620+
Income limits	Yes, by county	None	None
Property location	Rural/suburban eligible areas	Anywhere	Anywhere
Loan limit	None (income-based)	FHA county limit	$832,750 conforming

FAQ

USDA Loan Questions for Southern Maryland Buyers.

How do I know if my property qualifies?+

Give me your address and I'll check the USDA eligibility map immediately, at no cost. It takes minutes and could mean the difference between $0 down and $15,000+ out of pocket.

What are the income limits in Maryland?+

Limits vary by household size and county. For a typical 1 to 4 person household in Southern Maryland counties, limits generally range from approximately $112,000 to $148,000+. I verify your household income eligibility during our initial consultation.

Can I buy property with acreage using USDA?+

Yes, USDA has no maximum acreage restriction. However, the land must be typical for the area, not income-producing farmland, and the property must be primarily residential.

Does USDA take longer to close?+

USDA loans typically add 5 to 10 business days for USDA rural development agency approval. Most USDA purchases close in 35 to 45 days with a well-prepared file, not significantly longer than conventional.

Can USDA be combined with down payment assistance?+

In many cases, yes. I'll identify every program you qualify for. Sometimes USDA's $0 down makes additional DPA unnecessary, which frees up closing cost assistance options instead.

Is USDA available for investment properties?+

No, USDA loans require the property to be your primary residence. For investment properties, DSCR loans are the ideal alternative in Southern Maryland.

Cash-to-Close Strategy

USDA Is More Than “Zero Down.”

Fairway's USDA program guide notes that eligible loans may allow seller concessions and eligible gift funds, and certain closing costs may be financed subject to program, appraisal and transaction requirements. The home must be in an eligible area and household income limits apply.

Address First

USDA is geographically restricted. I check the exact property address rather than relying on the city or ZIP code alone.

Household Income

USDA eligibility includes household income rules that are different from a standard conventional qualifying-income discussion.

Closing Costs

Seller help, gifts and allowable financed costs can change how much cash you need. We model the complete settlement picture before you make assumptions.