• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

USDA Home Loans Help Rural Nevadans Find Their Way Home

Event Date: 
October 28, 2015 (All day)

Housing prices are rising throughout Nevada, which means rental prices are going up as well. As the housing supply continues to try to catch up with demand, this upward trend promises to continue.

If you’re planning to stay in one location for even a few years, it could be time to take the leap to become a first-time homebuyer. We know that sounds scary, but if you consider that your monthly rent might be comparable to a mortgage payment, it makes a lot of sense (and dollars). Owning a home also offers you the opportunity to build equity, while also deducting the mortgage interest from your tax obligations. For many people, this is a huge deduction, making your tax payment much more palatable. Property tax is also deductible, offering even more savings.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program is designed to help “low and very-low-income families obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing” in eligible rural areas of Nevada (cities with populations less than 30,000), through mortgage payment assistance.

According to the USDA’s website,these are the factors taken into consideration when determining eligibility for USDA home financing: At a minimum, applicants interested in obtaining a USDA guaranteed loan must have an adjusted income that is at or below the applicable low-income limit for the area where they wish to buy a house and they must demonstrate a willingness and ability to repay debt.

While the USDA home financing program makes the mortgage payment more manageable, what stops many people from buying is coming up with the down payment. However, the USDA loan program does not require a down payment; instead the homeowner pays a .40 percent annual fee.

Another way to address the down payment is to combine the USDA home loan with the Home At Last™ program offered by the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA), which includes both government (FHA, VA and USDA Rural Development) and conventional (HFA Preferred) loan alternatives, coupled with granted down payment assistance of up to 5 percent, depending on the loan type.

When NRHA's Home at Last™ Mortgage Tax Credit program is combined with a USDA RD guaranteed loan, new homeowners could enjoy many advantages that will increase their purchasing power: $0 down payment; $0 PMI; and a federal income tax credit equal to 40 percent of the interest paid on the mortgage loan (maximum $2,000 tax credit per year). There is no fee for qualifying veterans to obtain the Mortgage Tax Credit.
For more information on the USDA RD guaranteed loan options, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/nv.
If you’re interested in buying a home, you’ll want to meet with a qualified lender (one who is authorized to implement these loan programs) to find out what you can afford, and what programs you’re eligible for. They’ll work with you to put together a plan that’s best for your family!

Top Stories

... or see all stories

The Carson City Leisure Hour Club members continue celebrating the organization’s 127th year with a presentation on the upcoming Jazz and Beyond festival.

At the club’s dinner meeting on Thursday, May 16, Cherie Shipley, a member of the event planning committee, will talk about the annual Jazz and Beyond festival, how it formed, and the impact it has had on the community. Jazz and Beyond is scheduled for August 16 to August 25, 2024.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of May 6-12, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

Organized by Carol Park, the Elks held an open to the public, two-day indoor garage sale at the lodge in March as a fundraiser for Holiday with a Hero. Lodge members donated all items sold and assisted at the event which received excellent support from the community.

An 18-year-old Carson City man was arrested at a local diner after allegedly stealing a car from a used car lot two days prior to test drive it.

Friday May 10 at 7:30PM, Valhalla Tahoe kicks off their season with a living history presentation, “The Reno Cure,” at the Boathouse Theater. Reno has long been known as “The Biggest Little City.”

The Carson City Symphony Association will present a concert, "Pleasures of Music," on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church, 3680 N. Hwy. 395, south of Best Buy, Carson City. The concert is a Mark Twain Days event. Admission is free, donations welcome,

Members of the Rotary Club of Carson City will learn how its annual Educational Grant has helped local students at the club’s next meeting. Carson School District K-12 Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator Brittany Witter received the club’s Carson City School District’s Professional Development Center Grant last year with the goal of funding the “Literacy and Love of Reading through Social Studies” project.

Western Nevada College hosted a ceremony to celebrate students succeeding in training to reestablish themselves in the workforce on Thursday.

Perfection in a fur coat is the best way to describe Cher, our cat of the week. Just 7 months old, she is a pretty little short-haired girl with a sweet and social personality.

Carson High School's Senior in the Spotlight this week is Parker Schmid, a remarkable young man whose sparkle radiates in every aspect of his life. From academics to extracurriculars, Parker's journey embodies excellence and compassion, traits that set him apart from his peers.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: Courtesy of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office: On May 3, 2024 at approximately 1430 hours, Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with Central Lyon County, Carson City and Storey County Fire personnel to the area of 34 Newman Ln. for a report of motorhome on fire. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the fire had spread and multiple other abandoned vehicles caught fire as well. No one was hurt or injured during the incident. The incident is currently under investigation, which is being conducted by the Nevada State Fire Marshall’s Division.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Firefighters from Storey are also now responding.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Multiple vehicles on the property are engulfed in flame.

***

Around 2:15 p.m. a fire was reported at 34 Newman Lane in Mound House.

Firefighters from Carson City and Lyon County are enroute to the scene.

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.: According to Sheriff Ken Furlong, a student reported they saw a weapon. The incident was investigated and there was no weapon found. The lockdown has now been lifted and students are leaving the school.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Update 05-03-24 at 1:15 p.m.
One student has reported an alleged weapon sighting. It has not been corroborated, but school officials and the sheriff’s office are investigating out an abundance of caution.

***

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: The following update was provided by the district:

Carson High School was put on lockdown this afternoon around 12:15 p.m. No person was injured. There is an active situation being investigated in cooperation with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. We will provide more information as it becomes known. The school is secure. Do not go to the school. No entrances will be permitted at time. The district will provide updates every 30 minutes. Expect the next update at 1:15 p.m.

***

Carson High School is currently on a lockdown as of 12:40 p.m. Friday, but there has been no incident reported according to Sheriff Ken Furlong.

Two School Resource Officers are on scene investigating why the alarm went off.

The Lyon County Board of County Commissioners heard a presentation from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) on the current status of the Highway 50 Preservation Project in Dayton.

Kids ages 8-14: Join Skiing is Believing at Western Nevada college for our multidiscplinary sport & fitness camp! Every day of every week, Skiing is Believing staff will help provide a variety of sports for kids to develop their physical skills and promote emotional development through exercise and community service.

After months of thorough community engagement and meticulous deliberation, Douglas County has announced the completion of its new Strategic Plan. This document, which will guide the County's decisions and resource allocation for the next five years, is the result of extensive input from both internal and external stakeholders.

The unpredictability of spring this first weekend of May continues with the threat of snow showers in the Sierra on Saturday, along with gusty winds and rain down to the valley floors for Carson City and surrounding areas. The storm system should moved out by Sunday morning.

Carson High School Culinary Arts and Early Childhood Education students competed at the three-day state conference last month for Nevada Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. This was the first time the school’s programs participated in the conference. A total of 25 students competed in eight events.

Family fun, lively bands and historical characters return to Dangberg Historic Park in Minden beginning in May. Favorite presenters, bands and Chautauquans will be joined by new ones as well.

Carson City’s former Board of Supervisor and business owner Stan Jones was posthumously awarded Thursday the Historic Preservation Award for his long time work for downtown Carson City.

Each year, a Historic Preservation Award is awarded by the Historic Resources Commission to Carson City residents or organizations who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to historic preservation.

The Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is today, Thursday, May 2 at the Nevada State Capitol in Carson City. The memorial brings hundreds to the capitol grounds. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office arrested three for their alleged involvement in business thefts last month on Topsy Lane south of Carson City.

The national issue of suicide — particularly among veterans — touched many people who attended the Walk for Hope on Wednesday morning at Western Nevada College in Carson City.

The new renovations at the Carson City Senior Center opened the opportunity to host art shows to extend enrichment to the senior community. Carson City Senior Center presents “Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground,” featuring 16 artists who were asked to explore the geographical and cultural differences in Nevada, if such differences truly exist.

Meet Nash, Nevada Humane Society, Carson City branch Pet of the Week Nash. He's a striking 2-year-old German Shepherd who entered our shelter a couple of weeks ago due to his previous owner's moving. With Nash's handsome appearance and endearing personality, this young man captures the hearts of all who meet him.

Time to dust off those ten-speeds Carson City, because May is Bike Month in the capital city!

Carson City’s Muscle Powered hosts bike month each year in addition to their year-round volunteerism.

More than 48 Carson High School Future Business Leaders of America students attended the state conference in Sparks, Nev. this past week. In total, 38 of those students earned 74 “Top-10” placements in 30 separate events. Additionally, three CHS FBLA students took state with first-place finishes and 15 of them qualified for the National Business Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. this coming June.

Carson Animal Services Initiative (CASI) would like to thank everyone who attended or contributed to our annual Bark Whine & Dine, held on April 27. What a wonderful event it was!

The inaugural Carson City Cinco de Mayo 2024 festival this Friday through Sunday will be a 3-day celebration of Mexican culture for all the Northern Nevada region to enjoy.

In recognition of Historic Preservation and Archeological Awareness Month, the City’s Historic Resources Commission has organized the 2024 Scavenger Hunt.

Food Bank of Northern Nevada made a stop to the Carson City Senior Center on Wednesday morning, with another stop at the Dayton Senior Center from 11 to noon.