11/03/2026
USDA expands rural home financing to include ADUs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has expanded its Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program to include properties with income-producing accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The change removes a financing barrier that had limited some rural buyers' housing options and expands the inventory of homes eligible for USDA-backed loans, writes NAR Senior Policy Advisor Elayne Weiss. National Association of REALTORS®-supported changes also allow financing for homes with leased ADUs, helping broaden housing opportunities in rural communities.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) published a final rule expanding eligibility under the USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program to include properties with income-producing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and clarifying eligibility for homes with featur...