Who qualifies for USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants?

You must own and occupy the home.; The home must be in a USDA-eligible rural area; verify the exact address on USDA's eligibility map.; Household income must not exceed USDA's very-low-income limit for the county.; You must be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere.; The grant portion is limited to homeowners age 62 or older and may be used only to remove health and safety hazards.; Loans may repair, improve, or modernize the home or remove health and safety hazards.; Applications are accepted year-round, but approval timing depends on local funding availability..

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USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants

USDA Rural Development

Up to $40,000 loan; up to $10,000 grant; up to $50,000 combined

Up to $40,000 as a 1% home-repair loan, plus up to $10,000 as a health-and-safety grant for eligible homeowners age 62 or older; the two can be combined for up to $50,000.

Repayable loan

Locations listed in HomeBase: Maryland

This may not be the program's complete service area. Check the provider's location rules for the home you want to buy.

How and when you repayThe loan is repaid over 20 years at a fixed 1% interest rate. The grant normally is not repaid, but it must be repaid if the home is sold within three years.

Who can apply

About you

Household income must not exceed USDA's very-low-income limit for the county.
You must be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere.
The grant portion is limited to homeowners age 62 or older and may be used only to remove health and safety hazards.
Applications are accepted year-round, but approval timing depends on local funding availability.

The home

You must own and occupy the home.
The home must be in a USDA-eligible rural area; verify the exact address on USDA's eligibility map.
Loans may repair, improve, or modernize the home or remove health and safety hazards.

The program makes the final eligibility decision.

Full requirements, documents, and history

Income tables, education requirements, contacts, complete rules, stacking guidance, sources, and change history

Documents needed

Section 504 intake and authorization forms for informal prequalification
Uniform Residential Loan Application
Employment and Asset Certification
Items on USDA Attachment 12-E application checklist

What can I combine this with?

Most buyers can use more than one program on the same purchase — a state program under a county one, an employer benefit under both. Taking one when three were available is the most expensive mistake on this site, and it is usually made in silence.

Show what stacks with USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants(12 to check)

Worth asking about(12)

No published rule either way. One phone call settles it — and the answer can be worth thousands.

AgFed ARM Closing Cost SpecialAgriculture Federal Credit Union (AgFed)
AgFed pays $1,500 to $3,500 toward closing costs on eligible adjustable-rate purchase mortgages while the temporary offer remains available.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at AgFed ARM Closing Cost Special.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
APG Federal Credit Union 80/20 MortgageAPG Federal Credit Union
Eligible first-time buyers can finance 100% of an eligible primary-home purchase with an 80% first mortgage and 20% piggyback second mortgage, avoiding a cash down payment and PMI.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at APG Federal Credit Union 80/20 Mortgage.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Apple FCU First-Time Home Buyer MortgageApple Federal Credit Union
A low- or no-down-payment first-time-buyer mortgage with up to 100% combined loan-to-value and reduced PMI.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Apple FCU First-Time Home Buyer Mortgage.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Atlantic Union Bank Closing the Gap LoanAtlantic Union Bank
An Atlantic Union second-lien mortgage of up to 3% helps cover down payment and closing costs for an eligible primary-home purchase.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Atlantic Union Bank Closing the Gap Loan.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Chenoa Fund Down Payment AssistanceCBC Mortgage Agency
Second-mortgage down-payment assistance for qualifying borrowers through approved lenders, with repayable and forgivable FHA options generally offering 3.5% or 5%.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Chenoa Fund Down Payment Assistance.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Chenoa Fund DPA Edge Soft Second product for FHA loansChenoa fund
Unverified research entry — details not yet confirmed.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Chenoa Fund DPA Edge Soft Second product for FHA loans.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Clover Capital Community Hero’s Compassion ProgramClover Capital Mortgage and Clover Capital Homes
Eligible military members, teachers, first responders, healthcare workers and union members may receive 0.5% toward closing costs or prepaids, plus another 0.5% when also using the affiliated real-estate service.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Clover Capital Community Hero’s Compassion Program.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Community Partners ProductFederal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
Up to $20,000 through participating FHLBank Atlanta members for eligible public-service, military, veteran, and essential-worker homebuyers.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Community Partners Product.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Content changed at Baltimore City DHCD. Review for a new or updated program. Confidence: high.
Unverified research entry — details not yet confirmed.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Content changed at Baltimore City DHCD. Review for a new or updated program. Confidence: high..

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Content changed at CASH Campaign of Maryland. Review for a new or updated program. Confidence: high.
Unverified research entry — details not yet confirmed.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Content changed at CASH Campaign of Maryland. Review for a new or updated program. Confidence: high..

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
CrossCountry Mortgage CCM ZeroDownCrossCountry Mortgage
FHA first mortgage plus a 3.5% or 5% second lien; the 5% option may cover some closing costs.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at CrossCountry Mortgage CCM ZeroDown.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.
Educational Systems FCU $2,500 Mortgage Closing-Cost Credit — 2026Educational Systems Federal Credit Union
An eligible Educational Systems FCU member who applies online for a purchase or refinance mortgage by December 31, 2026 may receive up to $2,500 in lender closing-cost credits.
No published rule either way. Many programs at different levels do combine — this is a short phone call, and the answer can be worth thousands.
Here’s the question to ask
```
Hello — I'm a homebuyer looking at Educational Systems FCU $2,500 Mortgage Closing-Cost Credit — 2026.

Can it be used on the same purchase as USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants (USDA Rural Development)?

If it can:
  1. Is there a cap on total assistance from all sources combined?
  2. Do I need to disclose the other program before I apply, or does it matter which I apply to first?
  3. Does using both change the repayment or forgiveness terms of yours?

Thank you.
```
Ask both program offices, not just one. When their answers differ, the stricter answer is the one that applies at closing.
If you asked them, what did they say?
Yes, they combineNo, they don’tThey weren’t sure
Anything they added (optional)Which office answered (optional)The office, not the person. Please don’t include anyone’s name, email, or phone number.

We only mark a pair confirmed when a published program rule says so and we can cite it. Everything else is honestly unsettled — which is not the same as “no”. Confirm with a housing counselor or your lender before you count on any combination.

Check everything you’re bringing to closing — gifts, seller credits, employer help →

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