The blunt answer: usually the lender's company doesn't offer USDA, or the loan officer doesn't know how to originate one. USDA is less common, and plenty of originators steer around it for that reason, not because it's worse for you. When you and the property both qualify, USDA has real advantages: - Zero down. The program finances up to 100% of appraised value, and the down payment is the single biggest hurdle for most first-time buyers. No cash reserves are required to qualify, either. - Flexible credit in underwriting. - An appraisal overage can work for you. If the appraisal comes in above the sale price, eligible closing costs can be financed into the loan up to the appraised value. - Competitive cost. USDA's guarantee fees run lower than FHA's premiums, and the rate is often competitive. The agency sets and adjusts the fees, so confirm current figures. Keep in mind it's strictly an owner-occupied program with area income limits and property-eligibility maps. What you should insist on is a genuine side-by-side. Ask any loan officer recommending conventional over USDA to run both, on paper, for your exact scenario. If conventional truly wins for you, take it. What you shouldn't accept is a blanket "do conventional" with no numbers, because that recommendation often says more about the lender's product menu than about your best deal. That side-by-side is exactly what we run in the free Roadmap conversation, about 20 minutes with your real numbers.