![](media/image1.wmf){width="0.8833333333333333in"
height="0.5520833333333334in"}

***Ginny Monroe, Public Affairs Specialist, 430 G. Street, Agency 4169,
Davis, CA 95616-4169***

***Telephone: (530) 792-5803 \* Fax: (530) 792-5841 \* Cell: (916)
681-1570***

<Ginny.monroe@ca.usda.gov> ***\****
[www.rurdev.usda.gov/ca](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ca)

USDA Rural Development Increases Mortgage Limits

**Davis, CA -- April 1, 2003** -- Paul Venosdel, State Director for the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development,
announced today that the mortgage limits for the Rural Housing Direct
Loan program increased significantly effective March 24, 2003. The
heightened limits will enable families to select from a wider range of
available housing and will make new construction more of a viable
alternative where needed. The new mortgage limits are listed on the
attached.

Totals for Fiscal Years 2000-2002 reflect an USDA Rural Development
investment of over \$208 million in rural California through its Rural
Housing Direct Loan program which brought homeownership to close to
3,164 households.

The Rural Housing Direct Loan program provides loans that assist
eligible households to purchase a home located in a rural area.
Qualifying applicants may obtain 100 percent financing to purchase an
existing dwelling, purchase a site and construct a dwelling, or purchase
newly constructed dwellings located in rural areas. Rural Housing Direct
Loans afford financing at reasonable rates and terms, mortgage payments
based on the household\'s adjusted income, and require no down payment.

Contact the USDA Rural Development State Office at (530) 792-5823 or
your local USDA Rural Development Office generally listed in the blue
pages of phone directories. Or visit at our website:
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ca>.

\#

USDA Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider and
Employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to USDA, Director,
OCR, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410.

Attachment

+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| County         | Final          | ### County       | Final          |
|                | Established    |                  | Established    |
|                | Limits         |                  | Limits         |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| ## ALAMEDA     | > \$280,749.00 | > ORANGE         | > \$280,749.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > ALPINE       | > \$154,896.00 | > PLACER         | > \$258,400.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > AMADOR       | > \$161,000.00 | > PLUMAS         | > \$154,896.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > BUTTE        | > \$145,385.00 | > RIVERSIDE      | > \$167,881.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > CALAVERAS    | > \$154,896.00 | > SACRAMENTO     | > \$233,056.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > COLUSA       | > \$147,335.00 | > SAN BENITO     | > \$261,609.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > CONTRA COSTA | > \$280,749.00 | > SAN BERNARDINO | > \$147,594.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > DEL NORTE    | > \$154,215.00 | > SAN DIEGO      | > \$148,130.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > EL DORADO    | > \$246,300.00 | > SAN FRANCISCO  | > \$280,749.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > FRESNO       | > \$154,896.00 | > SAN JOAQUIN    | > \$235,500.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > GLENN        | > \$149,549.00 | > SAN LUIS       | > \$275,192.00 |
|                |                | > OBISPO         |                |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > HUMBOLDT     | > \$154,896.00 | > SAN MATEO      | > \$280,749.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > IMPERIAL     | > \$139,168.00 | > SANTA BARBARA  | > \$280,241.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > INYO         | > \$180,175.00 | > SANTA CLARA    | > \$280,749.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > KERN         | > \$153,696.00 | > SANTA CRUZ     | > \$280,749.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > KINGS        | > \$141,492.00 | > SHASTA         | > \$161,405.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > LAKE         | > \$154,896.00 | > SIERRA         | > \$154,896.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > LASSEN       | > \$154,896.00 | > SISKIYOU       | > \$154,896.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > LOS ANGELES  | > \$174,954.00 | > SOLANO         | > \$263,165.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MADERA       | > \$150,000.00 | > SONOMA         | > \$271,365.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MARIN        | > \$280,749.00 | > STANISLAUS     | > \$172,481.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MARIPOSA     | > \$150,000.00 | > SUTTER         | > \$156,750.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MENDOCINO    | > \$237,500.00 | > TEHAMA         | > \$154,896.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MERCED       | > \$160,000.00 | > TRINITY        | > \$154,896.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MODOC        | > \$142,422.00 | > TULARE         | > \$150,531.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MONO         | > \$181,592.00 | > TUOLUMNE       | > \$170,255.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > MONTEREY     | > \$280,749.00 | > VENTURA        | > \$280,749.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > NAPA         | > \$271,365.00 | > YOLO           | > \$196,331.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+
| > NEVADA       | > \$237,500.00 | > YUBA           | > \$156,750.00 |
+----------------+----------------+------------------+----------------+