Rural Housing Site Loans

(Section 523 and 524 Site Loans)
CFDA 10.411 Active Direct Loan
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$5M FY2026
$113K
FY24
$721K
FY25
$5M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 A $720,802 loan was made for the development and infrastructure of 8.7 acres to create 29 affordable building lots for very low to moderate-income homeowners in Florida.

Program Objective

To assist public or private nonprofit organizations interested in providing sites for housing; to acquire and develop land in rural areas to be subdivided as adequate building sites and sold on a cost development basis to families eligible for low and very low income loans, cooperatives, and broadly based nonprofit rural rental housing applicants.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government
  • State
  • Local
  • Public Housing Authority
  • Local Government Consortium

A private or public nonprofit organization that will provide the developed sites to qualified borrowers on a cost of development basis in open country and towns of 10,000 population or less and places up to 25,000 population under certain conditions. Applicants from towns of 10,000 to 25,000 population should check with local RD office to determine if agency can serve them. Assistance is available to eligible applicants in States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas.

Beneficiaries

  • Homeowner

Sites developed with Section 524 loans must be for housing low and very low income families and may be sold to families, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and cooperatives eligible for assistance under any Section of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, or under any other law which provides financial assistance. Sites developed with

How to Apply

Award Procedure

After application has been reviewed.

Decision Timeline

  • Approval: From 60 to 90 days
Program details & compliance

Description

Funds are used to purchase and develop affordable housing sites.

Mission Categories

Primary: Rural Housing

Other categories:
MultifamilyCooperatives, RentalRural Community Development

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

For the purchase and development of adequate sites, including necessary equipment which becomes a permanent part of the development; for water and sewer facilities if not available; payment of necessary engineering, legal fees, and closing costs; for needed landscaping and other necessary facilities related to buildings such as walks, parking areas, and driveways. Restrictions: loan funds may not be used for refinancing of debts, payment of any fee, or commission to any broker, negotiator, or other person for the referral of a prospective applicant or solicitation of a loan; no loan funds will be used to pay operating costs or expenses of administration other than actual cash cost of incidental administrative expenses if funds to pay those expenses are not otherwise available. Repayment of loan is expected within five years.

Restrictions

Use restrictions include:
(1) The purchase of land in excess of the immediate and identified needs in the locality.

(2) The purchase of land from a member of an applicant-organization, or from another organization in which any member of the applicant-organization has an interest, without prior consent of the national office.

(3) Refinancing of debts, except in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.

(4) Payment of any fee, charge, or commission to any broker, negotiator, or other person for the referral of a prospective applicant or solicitation of a loan.

(5) Payment of any fee, salary, commission, profit, or compensation to an applicant, or to any officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or agent of an applicant, except as provided in § 1822.265(b). No contract or agreement for services to be paid for with loan funds should be executed by the applicant without prior approval by the State director.

Required Documentation

Applicants must furnish pre-application documents identified in RD Instruction 444.8 including: (1) Evidence of need for such services; (2) legal capacity to borrow funds and develop land for sale; (3) a sound budget; and (4) general project description.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Annual
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Andria Hively — Loan Specialist
253-384-6907
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-02-05. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-07-08 03:00:45.