A USDA loan lets a qualifying buyer purchase a home with no down payment. There are two catches. The home has to sit in an area USDA considers eligible, and the household's income has to fall under USDA's limit for the county. The list below handles the first part for you: it checks every home for sale in Madison, Limestone, Morgan, Marshall and Jackson counties against USDA's own eligibility map and shows only the ones in eligible areas.
The live list loads here. If it does not appear, browse the towns below or call us at (256) 808-6861 and we will pull the list for you.
How This List Works
Each listing's map location is checked against the ineligible areas USDA Rural Development publishes for its single-family housing loans. If the home sits outside those areas, it shows here with an "In a USDA-Eligible Area" tag. The check runs every time the page loads, so new listings show up the same day they hit Valley MLS.
A listing's map pin can be off by a few houses, and USDA's boundaries sometimes run down the middle of a street. Before you write an offer, confirm the exact address on USDA's property eligibility site. Your lender will check it again too.
Where the USDA Areas Are Around Huntsville
Most of the City of Huntsville, the City of Madison, Decatur and Hartselle sit inside USDA's ineligible areas. Many of the communities around them do not. When we checked USDA's map in November 2026, most homes in these areas were in eligible territory:
- Madison County: Harvest, Toney, Meridianville, Hazel Green, New Market, Brownsboro, New Hope
- Limestone County: Athens, Ardmore, Elkmont, Tanner
- Morgan and Marshall counties: Lacey's Spring, Arab, Guntersville
- Jackson County: Scottsboro
Some places are split by the line. In Gurley and Owens Cross Roads, part of each is eligible and part is not, and the edges of Harvest and Toney closest to Madison and Huntsville can fall outside. USDA also updates its map from time to time. That is why the list above checks each home on its own instead of going by town name.
Who Qualifies for a USDA Loan
- Income: the whole household's income has to be at or under USDA's limit for the county and household size. You can check yours on USDA's income eligibility tool.
- Use: the home has to be your primary residence. USDA loans are not for rentals or second homes.
- First-time buyer: not required.
- Credit and debts: set by USDA's guidelines and the lender's approval.
- Price: there is no set maximum price. Your income and debts decide how much you can borrow.
- The home: it has to be safe, sound and meet USDA's property standards. Condos have to be on an approved list.
The loan we see most around here is the USDA Guaranteed loan, made by a USDA-approved lender. USDA also runs a Direct loan program for lower incomes, which you apply for through USDA itself. Details on both are on USDA Rural Development's single-family housing page.
Common Questions
Is a USDA loan really zero down?
Yes, for a buyer who qualifies. You still pay closing costs and prepaid items like insurance and taxes, but the seller can often help with those as part of the offer. The guaranteed loan also carries an upfront guarantee fee that is usually rolled into the loan, plus a smaller annual fee paid monthly. Our Expected Costs box on each listing shows an estimate when you pick USDA as the loan type.
Can I buy a new construction home with a USDA loan?
Yes, as long as the home is in an eligible area and meets USDA's standards. When we checked in November 2026, new homes for sale in eligible areas were concentrated around Athens, Meridianville, Harvest, New Market, Toney and Hazel Green.
Does the tag mean the home will qualify?
No. It means the home's location is in an eligible area on USDA's map. The home also has to pass the appraisal and meet USDA's property standards, and you have to qualify on income and credit.
What should I do first?
Get pre-approved with a USDA-approved lender before you start touring. Then call us. We will pull the homes that fit your budget and confirm each address on USDA's site before you make an offer.
Next Steps
Call or text us at (256) 808-6861, or send us a message. If USDA is not the right fit, our down payment assistance guide covers FHA, VA and the local help programs.
Area information comes from USDA Rural Development's eligibility map and is not a guarantee of eligibility. Listing information is from Valley MLS and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Wyze Realty is not a lender and does not make loans. Loan programs, fees and limits change; confirm everything with your lender. Equal Housing Opportunity.