An eligible area
Whether a Sussex County address is in an area USDA maps as rural is a question for USDA’s eligibility map, not the county line. We run the address through the map before you make an offer.
Sussex County, New Jersey
USDA home loans in Sussex County, NJ
For Sussex County buyers of a modest home to live in: what a USDA loan is, how the eligible area and your household income are checked, the USDA fees, and the steps to closing. Fidelity Residential is a direct, licensed mortgage lender with a New Jersey office on Route 36 in West Long Branch, in Monmouth County, and we lend across New Jersey.
- Direct, licensed mortgage lender
- NMLS #103098
- Equal Housing Lender
Where are you in the process?
Pick the closest, or call and talk it through.
Fidelity Residential · NMLS #103098 · Equal Housing Lender
Sussex County housing
Detached houses, mostly owned by the people who live in them
About 145,800 people live in Sussex County, in about 62,900 homes, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates for 2020 to 2024. An estimated 83.7 percent of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and 78.0 percent of all homes are detached houses.
The estimated median value of owner-occupied homes is about $369,400, and an estimated 68.4 percent of those homes, about 33,100, have a mortgage.
Fidelity Residential is a direct mortgage lender licensed in New Jersey under a Residential Mortgage Lender License. Our office is at 121 NJ-36, Suite 230, West Long Branch, in Monmouth County; we do not have an office in Sussex County, and we lend across New Jersey.
The homes and the commute
- Heating: an estimated 48.4 percent of occupied homes are heated with fuel oil or kerosene, and 10.8 percent with bottled or tank gas
- 1970s and 1980s homes: about 34 percent were built in those two decades
- The commute: the average trip to work is an estimated 36.3 minutes
- Seasonal homes: about 2,800 homes are held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use
- Long-time owners: about 28 percent of households have lived in their home since before 2000
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024. Estimates, not counts.
The basics
What a USDA home loan is
A USDA home loan, also called a Rural Development loan, is made by a private lender and backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It helps low- and moderate-income households buy a modest home in an area USDA maps as rural, which can take in small towns and the outer edges of suburbs, not just farmland.
Because USDA backs it, the loan can cover the full appraised value of the home, so most buyers need no down payment. The rate is fixed for the life of the loan, and you must live in the home.
The USDA fees
- Upfront: a one-time fee, which can be financed
- Yearly: an annual fee, paid monthly
- In place of mortgage insurance: the two fees take its place, and your loan estimate shows both in dollars
Eligibility
The address and the household come first
USDA sets the eligible areas and the household income limits, and we check both before anything else.
Household income
The income of every adult who will live in the home counts, not just the people on the loan, and it must be under USDA’s limit for the county and the size of the household.
Who can borrow
U.S. citizens, permanent residents and certain other eligible non-citizens. You do not have to be a first-time buyer, but the home must be the one you live in.
USDA loansIf the address or the household income does not fit, we look at other programs with you; a conventional or FHA loan, for example, can also be set up with a fixed rate.
How it works
From the eligibility check to closing
The appraiser confirms the value and that the home meets USDA’s property standards, and repairs the appraiser calls for are usually finished before closing.
A USDA loan has one more review than most: after our own underwriting, USDA reviews the file and issues its commitment. It usually takes longer than an FHA or conventional loan, so send documents early.
What to gather
- Every adult in the home: income records, including recent pay stubs, W-2 forms and tax returns
- Money for closing: bank statements for the accounts you will use
- Status: proof of citizenship or eligible status
- The contract: your signed purchase contract, once you have one
- Identification: photo identification for everyone who will be on the loan
Questions
Questions about USDA loans in Sussex County
Do you lend in Sussex County?
Yes. Fidelity Residential is a dba of PFN Lending Group, Inc. (NMLS #103098), which holds a New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lender License, and we lend across New Jersey. You can check the licence on NMLS Consumer Access (opens in a new tab).
Do you have an office in Sussex County?
No. Our office is at 121 NJ-36, Suite 230, West Long Branch, NJ 07764, in Monmouth County. Call 732-686-9999 to talk with a licensed loan officer.
Do I have to live on a farm?
No. Small towns and outer suburbs can be in eligible areas. What matters is where USDA’s map places the address, so we check it first.
Why does everyone’s income count?
USDA’s limit is for the household, so it counts every adult who will live in the home, even someone who is not on the loan.
Is a USDA loan just for first-time buyers?
No. The home must be the one you live in, and your household income must be under the county limit.
Can I refinance a USDA loan later?
USDA has refinance options for homes that already have a USDA loan. Whether one fits depends on your loan and your payment record; ask a loan officer.
Talk with a loan officer near you
Get a quote online, or call us and talk it through with a licensed loan officer.
What happens next
- Tell us about your loan. A few quick questions about the property and the loan you want. No credit check to start and no obligation.
- A licensed loan officer reviews your answers and follows up with you, usually within one business day.
- This is a request for a quote, not a loan application and not a commitment to lend.
This page is general information, not a commitment to lend. Programs, terms and eligibility depend on credit, income, property and underwriting review and are subject to change without notice.
Reviewed by Robert Shamie, CEO, NMLS #241428 · Last reviewed:
Fidelity Residential (PFN Lending Group, Inc., NMLS #103098) is a direct mortgage lender licensed in 40 states and the District of Columbia, with 26 years in business.