SFH Guaranteed Origination
March 26, 2026
USDA Final Rule and Pilot Notification – Delegated Approval Authority
The Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) published a Final Rule on March 19, 2026, amending 7 CFR 3555 to grant Delegated Lenders participating in the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) the authority to make loans and obtain Loan Note Guarantees after closing with limited-to-no Agency involvement.
The effective date of the Final Rule is June 17, 2026, with implementation occurring on September 28, 2028.
Concurrently, the SFHGLP published a Federal Register Notice announcing the Lender Interactive Test Environment (LITE) Delegated Authority Pilot Program. The pilot program will test a change in the SFHGLP loan approval process by replacing the Agency's pre-closing loan approval requirement with the delegation of loan approval authority to eligible lenders, consistent with the Delegated Authority Final Rule. The Agency will be hosting an informational session for Lenders regarding the LITE pilot program; further details will be forthcoming.
The effective date of the LITE Delegated Authority Pilot Program is September 1, 2026. Lenders interested in participating must notify the Agency at LITEPilot@usda.gov.
Questions regarding program policy and this announcement may be directed to sfhgld.program@usda.gov or (833) 314-0168.
Thank you for supporting the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program!
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