How a USDA loan works in Brandon
The USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program lets eligible buyers in USDA-designated rural areas purchase with no down payment. Loans are made by approved lenders and guaranteed by USDA Rural Development. Eligibility depends on both the property's address and your household income.
On a $385,000 home in Brandon, financing the 1% upfront guarantee fee ($3,850) brings the loan to about $388,850. Principal and interest run near $2,426 a month, plus the 0.35% annual fee — about $112 a month — for an estimated $2,538 before taxes and insurance. An FHA loan on the same home would need about $13,475 down.
For Hillsborough County, USDA's FY 2026 income limit is $131,900 for households of 1–4 people and $174,150 for 5–8 people. The test uses adjusted income for the whole household, not just the people on the loan, after allowed deductions such as dependents and childcare.

