Homeownership Options

RCAC’s programs and services deliver solutions to complex community needs. Our local presence allows us to develop partnerships with communities to identify needs, set goals, and select the best options to meet those goals. RCAC and our partners provide the tools to create change and growth, but the communities chart their own course. Collaboration, plus community effort will equal community change. How can we help you?

RCAC’s Loan Fund is a financial resource for rural communities. The Loan Fund fills financing gaps and serves in unconventional markets. We offer loans for affordable housing development, environmental infrastructure, community facilities and small businesses in rural locations.

Decent housing, safe drinking water, education, financing, jobs, community facilities, leadership, families are the many facets to RCAC's work.

RCAC expands the knowledge base of the rural public through education and training. Our training expertise is in technical, financial, and administrative issues that affect rural communities. We take great pride in our professional trainer team's capacity and effectiveness. Our trainers maximize audience participation to keep trainings relevant and memorable.

RCAC's news and publications are a compilation of timely news, announcements and accomplishments produced for the rural development world.

Sub-standard housing and poverty are commonplace in low-income rural communities. Many of these communities also face daunting challenges to access safe, clean drinking water and to develop other vital infrastructure. These issues are often overlooked in policy because rural communities lack the resources, training or social networks that are found in urban areas. Learn how you can advocate for the under-served population in the West.

Founded in 1978, RCAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with rural and Indigenous communities to achieve their vision and well being through technical assistance, training, financial resources and advocacy. For more than 45 years, our dedicated staff and active board, coupled with our key values: leadership, collaboration, commitment, quality and integrity, have helped effect positive change in rural communities across the West. Learn more about who we are and how we operate.

Homeownership options

Who we are

We support nonprofit agencies to develop affordable housing by providing training, resources, and technical assistance to increase homeownership for low- and very low-income people.

Homeownership to Increase Racial and Wealth Equity Initiative

Through the Homeownership to Increase Racial and Wealth Equity (HIRWE) initiative, RCAC will offer training, technical assistance, and resources to our existing and potential partners. The goal is to increase access to affordable homeownership for Indigenous households and households of color by building local capacity with our participating partners.

For more details download the FLYER and/or APPLICATION.

To contact the homeownership housing staff email Homeownership@rcac.org.

Washington Rural Homeownership Technical Assistance

RCAC has a contract with the Washington State Department of Commerce to provide technical assistance to rural communities to develop affordable homeownership projects. This includes preconstruction technical assistance services to eligible recipients seeking to construct, rehabilitate, or finance affordable homeownership for very low and low-income persons.

For more details download the FLYER.

To contact the homeownership housing staff or to receive an application for technical assistance, contact Homeownership@rcac.org.

USDA 502 Direct Packaging Intermediary

RCAC is an approved USDA 502 Direct Intermediary working with a network of Qualified Employers and Certified Packagers. For more information visit the RCAC USDA 502 Direct Packaging page HERE.

Are you interested in owning a home?

RCAC does not provide homeownership directly, RCAC is an intermediary and quality assurance reviewer of packaged loan applications for USDA’s Section 502 Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program. USDA 502 Direct provides mortgage loans to low- and very low-income rural residents seeking homeownership, but traditional mortgage financing is out of reach. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) Single Family Direct Loan Program (502 direct loans) is an affordable alternative that provides subsidized mortgage loans for modest homes in rural areas. The applicants are generally first-time homebuyers. To determine if a 502 Direct loan is a good fit, you can take a quick eligibility assessment for yourself and the area you want to purchase a home online at: https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do?pageAction=assessmentType.

RCAC does not package loan applications directly, however we do work with a network of certified packagers. If after taking the eligibility assessment you are interested in working with a packager that can provide individual assistance for you, please click HERE. Please note that there is a packaging fee when working with a certified packager.