FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tim Jones (315) 477-6436

<timothy.jones@ny.usda.gov>

**USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES 2007 AREA LOAN**

**LIMITS FOR DIRECT HOME LOAN PROGRAM**

*Direct Home Loans Require No Down Payment and Offer Generous Terms*

SYRACUSE, N.Y., February 28, 2007 **--** The U.S. Department of
Agriculture Rural Development's direct home loan program has established
new area loan limits for New York State.

The area loan limits are set by county and the 2007 limits have
increased, or remained steady, in every eligible county. The new loan
limits go into effect on March 1 and are listed by county at the end of
this release.

"Our 2007 area loan limits have been designed to help as many rural New
Yorkers as possible become homeowners," said Patrick H. Brennan, State
Director for USDA Rural Development in New York. "I encourage anyone
interested in this program to contact a local USDA Rural Development
Service Center to find out how we can help you."

USDA Rural Development's direct home loan program helps very-low to
low-income families and individuals buy, build or improve homes in rural
communities. The loans require no down payment and the standard term is
33 years. Payment assistance, which can reduce monthly mortgage
payments, is also available for those who qualify.

USDA Rural Development\'s mission is to deliver programs in a way that
will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of
life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, USDA Rural
Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and
foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical
community and technology infrastructure. In fiscal year 2006, USDA Rural
Development's housing, community and business programs combined to
invest more than \$250 million in rural New York, raising its total
investment in the state to more than \$1.2 billion since 2001.

Further information on rural programs is available by contacting the
state office at (315) 477-6400 or by visiting USDA Rural Development's
web site at <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ny>.

\#

Attached: Area Loan Limits by County, Local Service Center Contact
numbers

**2007 Area Loan Limits by County**

+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| # County          | **Loan       | # County          | # Loan Limit |
|                   | Limit**      |                   |              |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Albany            | \$179,400    | Oneida            | \$184,600    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Allegany          | \$169,200    | Onondaga          | \$184,800    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Broome            | \$172,632    | Ontario           | \$204,250    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Cattaraugus       | \$200,160    | Orange            | \$365,620    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Cayuga            | \$185,700    | Orleans           | \$177,100    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Chautauqua        | \$185,300    | Oswego            | \$177,800    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Chemung           | \$172,632    | Otsego            | \$189,200    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Chenango          | \$165,800    | Putnam            | \$429,610    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Clinton           | \$172,632    | Rensselaer        | \$191,800    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Columbia          | \$200,160    | Saratoga          | \$206,400    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Cortland          | \$180,100    | Schenectady       | \$178,700    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Delaware          | \$189,900    | Schoharie         | \$180,500    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Dutchess          | \$365,620    | Schuyler          | \$164,000    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Erie              | \$194,900    | Seneca            | \$172,632    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Essex             | \$180,900    | St. Lawrence      | \$169,800    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Franklin          | \$184,500    | Steuben           | \$182,200    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Fulton            | \$179,500    | Suffolk           | \$429,610    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Genesee           | \$185,700    | Sullivan          | \$237,030    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Greene            | \$195,700    | Tioga             | \$161,400    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Hamilton          | \$172,632    | Tompkins          | \$178,400    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Herkimer          | \$172,632    | Ulster            | \$291,670    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Jefferson         | \$174,300    | Warren            | \$193,200    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Lewis             | \$185,500    | Washington        | \$189,100    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Livingston        | \$185,250    | Wayne             | \$185,250    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Madison           | \$172,632    | Westchester       | \$429,610    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Monroe            | \$185,250    | Wyoming           | \$172,632    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Montgomery        | \$173,500    | Yates             | \$198,900    |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+
| Niagara           | \$180,500    |                   |              |
+-------------------+--------------+-------------------+--------------+

**USDA Rural Development Service Centers in New York**

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Batavia Service Center            | Bath Service Center               |
|                                   |                                   |
| 29 Liberty Street, Suite 2        | 415 W. Morris Street              |
|                                   |                                   |
| Batavia, NY 14020                 | Bath, NY 14810-1038               |
|                                   |                                   |
| \(585\) 343-9167, ext. 2200       | \(607\) 776-7398, ext. 4          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Counties served: Genesee, Monroe, | Counties served: Steuben,         |
| Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming         | Allegany, Livingston              |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Binghamton Service Center         | Canandaigua Service Center        |
|                                   |                                   |
| 1163 Upper Front Street           | 3037 County Road 10               |
|                                   |                                   |
| Binghamton, NY 13905              | Canandaigua, NY 14424             |
|                                   |                                   |
| \(607\) 723-1384, ext. 4          | \(585\) 394-0525, ext. 4          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Counties served: Broome,          | Counties served: Ontario, Wayne,  |
| Cortland, Tioga, Chenango,        | Yates                             |
| Delaware                          |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Canton Service Center             | Ellicottville Service Center      |
|                                   |                                   |
| 1942 Old DeKalb Road              | 8 Martha Street, Ste B            |
|                                   |                                   |
| Canto, NY 13617                   | P.O. Box 776                      |
|                                   |                                   |
| \(315\) 386-2401, ext. 4          | Ellicottville, NY 14731           |
|                                   |                                   |
| Counties served: St. Lawrence     | \(716\) 699-2375, ext. 4          |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | Counties served: Cattaraugus,     |
|                                   | Chautauqua, Erie                  |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Greenwich Service Center          | Ithaca Service Center             |
|                                   |                                   |
| 2530 State Route 40               | 903 Hanshaw Road                  |
|                                   |                                   |
| Greenwich, NY 12834               | Ithaca, NY 14850                  |
|                                   |                                   |
| \(518\) 692-9940, ext. 4          | \(607\) 257-2737, ext. 4          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Counties served: Washington,      | Counties served: Tompkins,        |
| Columbia, Hamilton, Rensselaer,   | Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca         |
| Saratoga, Warren                  |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Johnstown Service Center          | LaFayette Service Center          |
|                                   |                                   |
| 113 Hales Mills Road              | 2571 US Route 11, Ste 4           |
|                                   |                                   |
| Johnstown, NY 12095               | LaFayette, NY 13084               |
|                                   |                                   |
| \(518\) 762-0077, ext. 4          | \(315\) 677-3552, ext. 4          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Counties served: Fulton, Albany,  | Counties served: Onondaga,        |
| Greene, Montgomery, Otsego,       | Cayuga, Oswego                    |
| Schenectady, Schoharie            |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Marcy Service Center              | Middletown Service Center         |
|                                   |                                   |
| 9025 River Road                   | 225 Dolson Ave, Ste 104, 1^st^    |
|                                   | Floor                             |
| Marcy, NY 13403                   |                                   |
|                                   | Middletown, NY 10940              |
| \(315\) 736-3316, ext. 4          |                                   |
|                                   | \(845\) 343-1872, ext. 4          |
| Counties served: Oneida,          |                                   |
| Herkimer, Madison                 | Counties served: Orange, Bronx,   |
|                                   | Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New      |
|                                   | York, Putnam, Queens, Richmond,   |
|                                   | Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan,      |
|                                   | Ulster, Westchester               |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Plattsburgh Service Center        | Watertown Service Center          |
|                                   |                                   |
| 6064 Route 22, Suite 3            | P.O. Box 838                      |
|                                   |                                   |
| Plattsburgh, NY 12901             | 21168 NYS Route 232               |
|                                   |                                   |
| \(518\) 561-4616, ext. 4          | Watertown, NY 13601               |
|                                   |                                   |
| Counties served: Clinton, Essex,  | \(315\) 782-7289, ext. 4          |
| Franklin                          |                                   |
|                                   | Counties served: Jefferson, Lewis |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+