Mortgages in North Dakota
Rural-property mortgages handle homes on larger parcels, properties outside zoning conformity, and locations where typical agency guidelines tighten. USDA loans offer 0% down financing in USDA-designated rural areas, while FHA and conventional lenders cover rural homes up to specific acreage limits. A growing set of non-QM lenders explicitly welcome rural and acreage properties up to 10 acres without the usual deductions.
North Dakota at a glance
- Major metro
- Bismarck
- 2026 conforming loan limit (1-unit)
- $832,750
- High-cost counties
- No
- Active matching programs
- 18
Who it's for
Buyers of rural homes outside city limits, farmette buyers with 2-10 acres, hobby-farm purchasers, and investors targeting rural-vacation or short-term-rental properties where standard agency guidelines fall short.
Programs available in North Dakota
Conventional Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/15/2026Financing options for manufactured homes including FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, and USDA loan programs for eligible properties.
ITIN Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/16/2026Non-QM and ITIN loan programs now allowing rural properties for primary residences and second homes with specific LTV and loan amount restrictions.
FHA Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/10/2026Government and Down Payment Assistance programs including FHA, VA, and USDA with pricing improvements for April.
USDA Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/16/2026USDA loan program offering temporary interest rate buydown options including 1/0, 1/1, and 2/1 structures to lower initial monthly payments.
Jumbo Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/18/2026A pricing incentive offering 90bps on various rate and term refinance products, including conventional, jumbo, FHA, USDA, FHA Streamlines, VA IRRRLs, and VA Type 1 Cash-Outs.
Non-QM Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/12/2026A no-income, no-doc, no-ratio loan program designed for borrowers who do not meet traditional underwriting guidelines. It supports purchase, rate/term, and cash-out transactions with loan amounts up to $3M.
Specialized Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/11/2026Loans for properties purchased for hunting, recreation, or future use, accommodating unique characteristics like larger acreage and limited improvements.
Specialized Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/11/2026Financing for rural properties and land use that does not align with standard mortgage programs, including properties that may not operate as full-scale agricultural businesses.
FHA Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/13/2026Manual underwriting for government loan programs accepting FICO scores below 580.
USDA Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/13/2026Flexible manual underwriting for USDA loans, allowing for approvals that do not meet standard AUS requirements.
Conventional Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/10/2026Financing options for manufactured homes including FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, and USDA programs for properties meeting specific HUD and foundation requirements.
USDA Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/11/2026USDA rural development loans offering up to 100% LTV with competitive pricing and a streamlined process.
Specialized Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/29/2026Hard money financing solutions for real estate investors and buyers, including options for mobile homes, rural homes, and land.
USDA Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/9/2026USDA rural development loans for primary residences offering 100% LTV and high balance options.
USDA Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/9/2026USDA loan program offering 101% financing with zero down payment for eligible rural properties, featuring fast closing times.
Asset-Qualifying Mortgage
confirmed 5/15/2026Investment property loan program utilizing asset depletion for income qualification.
Non-QM Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/15/2026Investment property loan program utilizing profit and loss statements for income qualification.
Conventional Mortgage Program
confirmed 5/9/2026Prime mortgage program for first and second liens with updated LTVs for P&L only documentation and expanded eligibility for rural properties and first-time homebuyers.
Frequently asked questions
How is "rural" defined?
USDA uses its own eligibility map (search USDA Property Eligibility). Conventional and FHA generally consider it rural based on population density, lot size, and surrounding land use rather than a single threshold.
How many acres can I finance?
Most agency loans tolerate up to 10 acres without issue. Beyond that, programs vary - some non-QM lenders go higher; others require the value above 10 acres to be excluded.
Do outbuildings count toward value?
Usually only contributory value: a garage or barn adds appraised value, but pure utility outbuildings may not. The appraiser determines.
Can I get a USDA loan?
If the property sits in a USDA-eligible area and your household income is within USDA limits (varies by county and family size), USDA Guaranteed offers 0% down. We can check eligibility instantly.
Get a rate for North Dakota
Pricing for Bismarck and the rest of North Dakota. No personal information required.
Get instant pricingToday's mortgage rates
Conventional
5.875%
5.906% APR
FHA
5.375%
5.405% APR
VA
5.375%
5.402% APR
Conv: 80% LTV, 780 FICO. FHA: 96.5% LTV, 680 FICO. VA: 100% LTV, 680 FICO. 30-yr fixed. Your rate may vary.