Florida Lookup Tools
Florida USDA Eligibility Checker
A USDA home loan has two gates — where the home is, and your household income. Check your county's income limit right here, see where USDA works across Florida, then confirm the exact address on USDA's official map.
$0 down, lower mortgage insurance
100% financing in eligible areas, with an annual fee lower than FHA's monthly mortgage insurance.
Most of Florida qualifies
Eligible areas cover most counties outside Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas and the big metro cores — including many suburbs.
Two gates: property + income
Both have to pass. Use the income tool below, then check the exact address on USDA's map.
Step 1 — Income check
Will your household income qualify?
USDA caps household income at 115% of the area median, set by county and household size. Pick your county to see the FY2026 limit, then optionally estimate your adjusted income.
Optional: estimate your adjusted income
The cap is measured against adjusted income — total yearly income of every adult in the home, minus certain USDA allowances. Gross income slightly over the cap can still work.
$480 allowance each
USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program FY2026 limits. USDA updates limits each year. Educational estimate only — verify on USDA's official income limits page. Final eligibility requires Tanesha's full review.
Official source
Check the official lookup — step by step
Step 2 — property check. USDA's eligibility map is the source of truth for any specific address. It works best on a computer.
- 1
On the USDA page, click “Single Family Housing Guaranteed” under Property Eligibility.
- 2
Accept the disclaimer, then type the full street address, city, and “FL” into the search box at the top of the map.
- 3
Read the result: “Property Eligible” in a pop-up means the address is inside a USDA area. Shaded (orange/tan) areas on the map are NOT eligible.
- 4
Screenshot the result and send it to Tanesha with your income estimate from the tool above.
Opens the official government website in a new tab.
Florida region guide
Where USDA loans work in Florida
General county-level patterns, from the Panhandle to the Keys. “Broadly eligible” means most addresses qualify; “mixed” means it depends on which side of the city limits you are on; “mostly ineligible” means USDA usually does not apply. The address-precise answer always lives on USDA's official map.
Western Panhandle
Pensacola and Destin coastal areas are mixed; Crestview, Niceville and inland counties are broadly eligible. Counties: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Liberty.
Big Bend & Tallahassee
The Tallahassee urban core is mostly excluded; the rest of the region is broadly eligible. Counties: Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Franklin, Gadsden.
North Central Florida
Gainesville and Ocala metros are mixed; surrounding rural counties are almost entirely eligible. Counties: Alachua, Marion, Putnam, Levy, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamilton, Columbia, Union, Bradford, Baker, Dixie.
Northeast — Jacksonville & St. Augustine
Most of Jacksonville is ineligible. St. Augustine, Palm Coast and Yulee suburbs are mixed; rural Clay, Nassau and Flagler qualify. Counties: Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns, Flagler.
Central Florida — Orlando area
The Orlando metro core is mostly excluded. Eastern Lake, southern Volusia, eastern Osceola and rural Sumter are broadly eligible. Counties: Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Sumter.
Tampa Bay
Pinellas is almost entirely ineligible and the Tampa core is excluded; rural east Hillsborough, north Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and rural Polk are broadly eligible. Counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Polk, Hardee.
Southwest Coast
Coastal cities (Sarasota, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples) are excluded. Inland and rural eastern Collier, Hendry, Glades and DeSoto are broadly eligible. Counties: Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Lee, Collier, Glades, Hendry.
Treasure & Space Coast
Coastal cities (Vero Beach, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Melbourne) are mixed. Inland Highlands, Okeechobee and rural areas qualify. Counties: Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, Highlands.
Southeast — Miami metro
Almost entirely ineligible. Some far-western Glades-area communities and the southern fringe near Homestead/Florida City have limited eligibility. Counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach.
Florida Keys
Eligibility varies by island, and Monroe County carries the highest USDA income limit in Florida. County: Monroe.
How USDA eligibility actually works
Gate 1 — Property: the home must be in a USDA-designated area. The label says “rural,” but eligible areas include plenty of Florida suburbs and secondary cities. USDA redraws the map periodically, so we always verify on USDA's live tool during pre-approval.
Gate 2 — Income: household income must be at or under 115% of the area median, by county and household size. This counts everyone 18 and older living in the home — not just the borrowers.
One nuance: USDA uses two income numbers. Adjusted income (after allowances) is compared to the cap. Repayment income (just the borrowers) is used for your debt-to-income ratio. That is why a household whose gross income looks slightly over the cap can sometimes still qualify.
Credit score for a Florida USDA loan
USDA does not set one published minimum score — each lender sets its own. Here is how it usually works:
| Middle credit score | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 640 and up | The score many lenders look for to get a streamlined automated USDA approval. |
| 580 – 639 | Some lenders can still approve with compensating factors — steady rent history, savings in the bank, low debts, stable job history. |
| Below 580 | Usually needs credit work first, or a different program. Tanesha can map out a plan. |
Lender requirements vary. Your actual eligibility depends on your full credit report and application.
Why USDA usually beats FHA when both apply
| USDA | FHA | |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | $0 | 3.5% ($10,500 on a $300K home) |
| Upfront fee | 1.00% guarantee fee | 1.75% upfront MIP |
| Annual mortgage insurance | 0.35% | 0.55% at 3.5% down |
| Typical credit expectation | 640 (580+ with compensating factors at some lenders) | 580+ for 3.5% down |
| Income limit | Yes — by county | No |
| Location limit | Yes — USDA areas only | No |
On a $300K loan, the annual fee difference alone is roughly $50 a month. Both upfront fees can be financed into the loan.
If you are eligible for USDA, it is often the place to start. FHA is the fallback if income is too high or the property is outside an eligible area; conventional can fit buyers with stronger credit who want mortgage insurance that can come off later.
What this tool can't tell you
- Address-precise property eligibility — the region guide shows patterns; USDA's map decides the exact address.
- Your true adjusted income — additional allowances (medical expenses for elderly/disabled households, for example) can apply.
- Property condition — the home must be safe, sound and sanitary on appraisal, similar to FHA standards.
- Manufactured homes and other special property types have their own rules.
- Annual updates — income limits change each year; we always quote current figures at pre-approval.
Florida USDA Eligibility FAQ
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About the Author
Tanesha Tomlinson
Florida Mortgage Loan Advisor, Hometown Financial Group, LLC DBA Modus Mortgage
NMLS #1540854 · Company NMLS #1028232
Tanesha Tomlinson is a 24-year Florida mortgage industry expert who has originated over $100,000,000 in mortgages. She works with homebuyers, homeowners, and Realtor partners across South Florida, Broward County, Central Florida, and the Orlando area. Her focus is qualification, income calculation, loan programs, down payment assistance, and cash to close — explained plainly, with the numbers in front of you. As a licensed Florida Realtor® with United Realty Group, she also understands the property and contract side of the same purchase.
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Hometown Financial Group, LLC DBA Modus Mortgage · Company NMLS #1028232 · Tanesha Tomlinson NMLS #1540854 · Florida Real Estate License #SL3524613 (United Realty Group) · Equal Housing Lender. Licenses can be verified on NMLS Consumer Access and the Florida DBPR license portal. Content is educational only and is not a commitment to lend.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Information and tools on this website are educational only and should not be considered individualized financial, legal, or tax advice. Estimates are not a pre-approval, loan approval, or commitment to lend. Mortgage approval, rates, APRs, payments, taxes, insurance, closing costs, and loan terms are subject to borrower qualifications, property information, applicable loan-program requirements, and underwriting. This website disclaimer does not replace Modus Mortgage's official disclosures.
