Mark Harrington, a mortgage lender with Horizon Home Mortgage in Windsor, shared this information with me recently:

The USDA provides 100% financing for mortgages on homes in "rural" areas, including many in Connecticut. Towns like Burlington, Avon, Granby, Canton, East Windsor and Suffield in Hartford County and towns such as Marlborough, Hebron, East Hampton, Colchester and Ellington in surrounding counties.

There are income limits - for Hartford County the current limit for a 2 person household is $73,150 and the program is only available for owner occupied, single family homes.

But there are also some significant benefits for qualifying properties and buyers:

-Seller may contribute closing costs.

-No down payment required.

-Competitive rates.

-No minimum credit score.

-No monthly mortgage insurance premium.

Looking for the perfect home for a USDA Rural Development Loan?  This home at 124 Gates Road in Lebanon is located on 4 acres and qualifies for this program.

To check availability in your area, click on this link: USDA.