Guaranteed Rural Housing Loans   This program is administered by the Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within the Rural Development mission area of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Sometimes good credit and a steady income are not enough to qualify for a home loan at a commercial lending institution, such as a bank, savings and loan or mortgage company. More rural families and individuals may be eligible to become homeowners with the help of a USDA guaranteed home loan. When the federal government agrees to guarantee a loan, lending institutions can help buyers while incurring less risk. Through USDA’s Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program, low- and moderate-income people can qualify for mortgages even without a downpayment.