USDA Home Loan Pros

USDA Loan Blog

Expert guides and resources on USDA home loans in Texas and Arizona — eligibility, income limits, and home buying strategies from the Cook Brothers Mortgage Team.

Featured Articles

Featured

USDA Home Loans in Texas: The Complete 2026 Guide

A 2026 guide to USDA home loans in Texas: eligible regions outside DFW, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, income limits, and how no-down-payment financing works.

Zac Cook
April 23, 2026
9 min read

All Articles

USDA vs Other Loan Types

USDA Guarantee Fee vs. FHA Mortgage Insurance Cost

Compare the USDA guarantee fee (1.00% upfront, 0.35% annual) against FHA mortgage insurance to see which low-down-payment loan costs less over the life of the loan.

Tanner Cook
June 26, 2026
7 min
USDA Guides by Town & County

USDA Home Loans in Arizona: The Complete 2026 Guide

A statewide guide to no-down-payment USDA home loans in Arizona. Eligible counties, 2025 income limits (Phoenix MSA runs higher), credit, and fees explained.

Zac Cook
May 16, 2026
6 min
USDA Guides by Town & County

USDA Home Loans in Texas: The Complete 2026 Guide

A 2026 guide to USDA home loans in Texas: eligible regions outside DFW, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, income limits, and how no-down-payment financing works.

Zac Cook
April 23, 2026
9 min
Home Buying How-To

How to Check If Your Address Qualifies for USDA

Check USDA property eligibility by address in under five minutes. A step-by-step guide to the official USDA map, reading boundaries, and what it can't tell you.

Tanner Cook
March 8, 2026
6 min
USDA Loan Program Guides

USDA Loan Myths That Keep People Renting

It's only for farms, I make too much, the process is slow. We debunk the most common USDA loan myths keeping qualified Texas and Arizona buyers renting.

Zac Cook
March 2, 2026
6 min
USDA Eligibility & Income Limits

USDA Loan Credit Score: Is 640 a Hard Cutoff?

USDA sets no minimum credit score. 640 is the GUS automated-approval threshold, not a wall. See what happens below 640 and how manual underwriting works.

Zac Cook
February 16, 2026
6 min
USDA Eligibility & Income Limits

Rural Doesn't Mean What You Think: USDA Eligibility

USDA property eligibility is a map, not a vibe. See which Texas and Arizona suburbs and exurbs qualify, why cores are excluded, and how to check an address.

Tanner Cook
February 9, 2026
6 min
USDA Eligibility & Income Limits

USDA Loan Requirements in 2026: The Real Checklist

The actual USDA loan requirements we check with clients in 2026: eligible area, income limits, credit, debt ratios, occupancy, and borrower eligibility.

Zac Cook
January 19, 2026
6 min