Forget the city life.

It's better in the country. That's why you want to live in a rural community. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) subsidizes qualified borrowers through the Rural Housing Loan. The USDA determines what "rural" means, and that varies widely by state. But if you're eligible, you can qualify for lower monthly payments and you don't need money for a down payment. You'll also spend less time in traffic driving to the closing.

• 30 year fixed rate mortgage.

• 100% financing with no cash to close requirement.

• Maximum loan amount varies by county.

• Credit scores down to 640.