Mortgage Guides, Tips & Market Insights

USDA Income Limits 2026 and Eligible Areas in Virginia and West Virginia

Much of the countryside and many small towns within reach of Northern Virginia sit inside USDA eligible areas. Short answer: a USDA guaranteed loan needs two things to line up: a property in a USDA eligible rural area, and adjusted household income at or below the 2026 limit for the county. In the W

USDA Loan vs FHA in Virginia and West Virginia: What Zero Down Really Costs (2026)

USDA loans reach much closer to Washington than the word rural suggests, from western Loudoun to the Eastern Panhandle. Short answer: a USDA guaranteed loan can let you buy with no down payment if the property is in an eligible area, adjusted household income is at or below the limit, and you qualif

Self-Employed Mortgage Requirements 2026: How Lenders Calculate Your Income

Self employed income qualifies for a mortgage. The question is how much of it the lender can count. Short answer: you can get a conventional, FHA or VA mortgage while self employed. Lenders generally want a two year history, confirmed with your personal and business tax returns, and they qualify you

Rent vs Buy in Northern Virginia 2026: The Break-Even Math by County

Renting and buying cost different amounts in different years. The real question is which one leaves you ahead by the time you move. Short answer: at today’s 6.95 percent mortgage rate, buying a $600,000 Northern Virginia home with 10 percent down pulls ahead of renting a comparable single family hou