The USDA guarantees a mortgage issued by a participating local lender — similar to an FHA loan and VA-backed loans — allowing you to get low mortgage interest rates, even without a down payment. If you put little or no money down, you will have to pay a mortgage insurance premium, though.
Income limits to qualify for a home loan guarantee vary by location and depend on household size.
USDA guaranteed home loans can fund only owner-occupied primary residences.