USDA helps with home repairs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program has funds available for very-low- and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area.

The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to applicants who are unable to qualify for traditional financing. No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as 1 percent.

The maximum loan amount is $40,000 at a 1-percent interest rate, repayable for a 20-year term and can be used to improve or modernize homes and make essential repairs. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to homeowners 62 and older and must be used to remove health or safety hazards, such as fixing a leaking roof, installing indoor plumbing, or replacing a furnace.

Find a Rural Development housing specialist at http://www.rd.usda.gov/mn.