The Mortgage Files

Nationally syndicated mortgage news and advice from Senior Loan Officer Scott Sheldon.

New USDA Income Deduction Changes Could Help More Families Qualify for Homeownership

By Scott Sheldon / August 5, 2026

New USDA Income Deduction Changes Could Help More Families Qualify for Homeownership If you’ve been thinking about buying a home with a USDA loan, there’s a small but meaningful update that could make a difference for some families. Effective July 13, 2026, the USDA increased two of the annual income deductions used to determine eligibility…

New USDA Income Limits for Sonoma County (2026): Do You Qualify for 100% Financing?

By Scott Sheldon / July 30, 2026

New USDA Income Limits for Sonoma County: You May Now Qualify for 100% Home Financing If you’ve been thinking about buying a home but assumed your income was too high for a USDA loan, it’s time to take another look. The USDA has updated its income limits, and many Sonoma County homebuyers who didn’t qualify…