For prospective homebuyers looking to purchase within rural communities, the USDA home loan program may be one of the best mortgage options that they’ve never even heard of.
Last year, USDA purchase loans accounted for just 1.2% of all residential primary residence purchase loans, despite around 97% of the US landmass falling within USDA-eligible boundaries.
Thanks to the program’s strong government backing, qualifying homebuyers are eligible to purchase properties within designated rural areas with zero down payment and some of the lowest interest rates out there – especially for applicants who don’t have perfect credit.
In 2025, over 800 different lenders originated USDA purchase loans. However, 458 of them – more than half – issued fewer than 10 of these mortgages all year.
To help you find the right USDA lender to work with, we’ve identified the lenders who issued the largest number of USDA purchase loans in 2025 based on Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) accessed via PolygonResearch.com.
Top USDA Lenders for Purchase Money Loans in 2025
Last year, 819 different USDA-approved lenders originated a total of 38,409 agency-backed purchase loans through the USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. One-third of these loans – 12,800 – were issued by the top 10 largest lenders.
| Rank | Lender | Loans Originated | Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CMG Mortgage | 4,896 | 12.75% |
| 2 | Guild Mortgage | 1,241 | 3.23% |
| 3 | DHI Mortgage | 1,146 | 2.98% |
| 4 | Equity Prime Mortgage | 979 | 2.55% |
| 5 | United Wholesale Mortgage | 978 | 2.55% |
| 6 | Flat Branch Mortgage | 977 | 2.54% |
| 7 | Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. | 724 | 1.88% |
| 8 | CrossCountry Mortgage | 700 | 1.82% |
| 9 | Union Home Mortgage | 616 | 1.60% |
| 10 | FirstTrust Home Loans | 543 | 1.41% |
1. CMG Mortgage
California-based CMG Mortgage claims the title of #1 largest lender for USDA purchase loans in 2025, with a total of 4,896 loans originated. This translates into 12.75% of all USDA purchase loans funded for the year. CMG reaches borrowers through a network of independent mortgage brokers, as well as its own retail division, which boasts more than 240 branch offices nationwide
2. Guild Mortgage
Founded in 1960, Guild Mortgage has more than 65 years of experience helping connect homebuyers with the right type of loan for their unique individual needs. The company has seen considerable growth in recent years, due in part to the acquisition of several other lenders. In 2025, Guild Mortgage issued 1,241 USDA purchase loans. It was also the third-largest lender for purchase loans under $250k.
3. DHI Mortgage
DHI Mortgage serves as the in-house mortgage partner of the nation’s largest homebuilder, DR Horton. As a builder-associated lender, DHI specializes in purchase money loans. With the company’s nationwide new construction footprint, it’s of little surprise that it ranked third on our list by issuing 1,146 USDA purchase loans in 2025.
4. Equity Prime Mortgage
Atlanta-based Equity Prime Mortgage, commonly referred to as EPM, previously focused on a direct-to-consumer business model, but has diversified into wholesale lending in recent years. This has helped expand their reach to a greater number of prospective homebuyers, which led to the company originating 979 USDA purchase loans last year.
5. United Wholesale Mortgage
United Wholesale Mortgage is the largest wholesale lender in the country, operating through a robust nationwide network of mortgage brokers and partner companies. While they ranked second for VA loans in 2025, the mortgage giant took fifth place for USDA purchase loans with 978 issued.
6. Flat Branch Mortgage
Licensed to operate in 40 states, Missouri-based Flat Branch Mortgage does the majority of its business in the Midwest. According to the company’s website, it’s the number one USDA lender in Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Kansas. In 2025, the company originated a total of 977 USDA purchase loans.
7. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.
In business since 1996, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. is a direct-to-consumer lender licensed to lend in all 50 states. According to the Fairway LinkedIn page, the company employs more than 10,000 people and has more than 345 branch locations across the country. That size is reflected in its USDA purchase loan originations, which numbered 724 in 2025.
8. CrossCountry Mortgage
CrossCountry Mortgage, which connects with consumers through retail channels, including more than 700 branch locations, was the number one direct-to-consumer lender in 2025. For USDA purchase loans, however, Cleveland-based CrossCountry took the eighth spot with a total of 700 of these loans issued last year.
9. Union Home Mortgage
Founded in 1970, Union Home Mortgage boasts more than 55 years of lending experience. With more than 155 retail locations across the United States, the company has helped hundreds of thousands of prospective buyers achieve homeownership. In 2025, Union Home Mortgage issued 616 USDA purchase loans.
10. FirstTrust Home Loans
FirstTrust Home Loans, originally founded in 2003 as First Arkansas Financial, has a retail presence across eight states, according to the company’s website, primarily focusing on the South and Midwest regions. FirstTrust rounds out our list of the 10 largest USDA lenders for homebuyers with a total of 543 purchase loans backed by the agency in 2025.
Why Choose a USDA Loan?
Why choose a USDA loan? Here are just a few of the reasons:
Zero down payment needed to buy a home, compared to 3.5% for an FHA mortgage and at least 3% for a conventional mortgage
Since the federal government backs USDA loans, interest rates are often lower than conventional mortgages – especially for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit scores.
USDA guidelines are pretty lax – lenders typically have more flexibility in approving borrowers than with other types of mortgages
Down payment assistance programs can be used to cover closing costs for a truly zero-out-of-pocket purchase
USDA upfront and monthly mortgage insurance fees are usually lower than FHA and conventional mortgage insurance
- If interest rates decrease in the future, you can apply for a USDA Streamlined Assist loan for a simplified refinancing process
USDA Mortgage Guidelines
While USDA mortgage guidelines are more relaxed than for many other types of home loans, you will still have to meet minimum (and maximum) requirements to qualify. The property you're purchasing must also meet USDA standards regarding location and characteristics.
Minimum Credit Score for USDA Loans
USDA guidelines do not set a minimum credit score. However, it’s common for lenders to look for a score of 640 because that’s the minimum score to use the USDA’s automated underwriting system. However, many mortgage companies are willing to manually underwrite loan applications and accept scores of 620 or lower.
Income Requirements for USDA Loans
USDA home loans are designed for low-to-moderate-income borrowers. You must earn 115% or less of your area's median income to qualify. Unlike other types of mortgages, the USDA counts income from all adults in the household – not just the borrowers listed on the mortgage. In most parts of the country, the income limit for a four-person household is well over $100,000 per year. You can look up the specific limits for your area directly from the USDA website.
Property Guidelines for USDA Loans
The primary requirement for a property when applying for a USDA loan is that it's located in a rural setting. Several factors determine what constitutes an appropriate locale, although guidelines allow for communities with up to 35,000 residents in certain situations. You can use the USDA Property Eligibility Tool to find out if the area you’re looking to buy in qualifies.
Apart from location, some of the property requirements for a USDA mortgage include:
Homes are typically required to have between 400 and 2,000 square feet of living area
It must be for a single-unit property like a detached home, condo, or townhouse. Some manufactured homes are eligible, but multi-family properties are not (however, ADUs sometimes are)
Properties cannot be primarily income-producing, such as a working farm
Properties must meet HUD guidelines as documented by a qualified property appraiser
Sites with wells and septic systems are allowed, but you'll need a water quality test in most cases
In the past, you couldn't get a USDA loan for a home with a swimming pool. However, guidelines were updated in 2022 to allow properties with in-ground pools as long as other dwelling requirements are met.
Find the Best USDA Lender
While the lenders on this list all have vast experience originating USDA loans, the largest doesn’t always mean best. While the USDA does set general guidelines, specific requirements can vary depending on the company you’re working with. Often, choosing the right lender depends on your unique situation and homebuying needs.
We’ll connect you with a vetted and experienced USDA lender here.
All figures based on 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data provided by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and accessed May 7, 2026, through PolygonResearch.com HMDAVision.
