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LibraryUSDA ADU loan guides
Everything we publish about USDA's rule on homes with accessory dwelling units, organized so you can start with the big picture and go as deep as you need.
In late October 2026, the USDA Rural Housing Service finalized a rule for its Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. Starting December 28, 2026, the program can finance a single-family home with one or more income-producing accessory dwelling units. Before the rule, a home could be ruled out simply because its ADU had earned rent, even if the buyer never planned to rent it.
These guides explain the rule in plain English. Each one sticks to what USDA and the Federal Register have actually published, links to the official source, and says clearly when something isn't known yet. The biggest open questions today are how ADU rental income counts toward qualifying, whether the loan can pay to build a new ADU, and when lenders will start offering it. We track those on the updates page and change these guides when USDA publishes an answer.
If you're new to the topic, start with the main guide. If you're looking at a specific property, the requirements and eligibility guides are the most practical. Agents and loan officers have their own page.
Core guides
The USDA ADU loan, explained
What the rule changes, who it applies to, what counts as an ADU, the timeline and what you can do now.
Read the main guide → 02ADU requirements
The six features a living unit needs, examples of spaces that do and don't fit, and home-based business rules.
Read the requirements → 03Eligibility
Check property location and household income with USDA's official tools, then check the home and ADU.
Check eligibility →Reference and tracking
Rule updates
A dated log from the March 2026 proposal to the December 2026 effective date, plus what we're watching next.
See the timeline → 05FAQ
Short, sourced answers to the questions buyers, sellers and agents ask most.
Read the FAQ → 06Glossary
Plain definitions of the terms you'll see: guaranteed loan, living unit, final rule, 7 CFR 3555 and more.
Open the glossary →Agents and loan officers
What the rule means for listings and originations, and how to register interest in future partnerships.
Get notified when lenders start offering it
The rule takes effect December 28, 2026, but lenders still need USDA's handbook guidance before they can offer it. Leave your first name and email and we'll send one short note when that changes. Nothing else.
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