Buying land with a USDA loan: ALL of your different options, explained

I'm exploring all of the different USDA programs available to you for an unconventional land purchase, as well as the pros and cons of choosing this avenue. Let's do it!

Back in 2023 when I found my 6.74 acres on Zillow, the first place I looked for land loans was the USDA. I had no idea the Farm Credit System existed, and not knowing much about raw land or farming, I had a very elementary understanding that the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) existed to possibly make this kind of purchase easier for a ‘first time farmer.’

I have since learned a lot about the USDA and its different departments, programs, and loans, especially having entered their EQIP grant money program back towards the end of 2024.

I ultimately ended up going with a loan from Farm Credit in 2023, and I will explain in this article as well why that was a better fit for me. But for you, the USDA may be the logical avenue, especially since, unlike Farm Credit, the USDA offers a 0% down option for those that qualify as low income.

There is more available to you through the USDA than you probably realize, so in this guide, I will break it down as simply as possible for you to understand your realistic options.

Let’s get to it!