• Select the type of loan you are interested in (e.g. housing, education, business, etc) in the top navigation under "Loans" and look at a list of loans;
• Enter keyword(s) in the Search Loans area;
• Answer a few questions and GovLoans.gov will give you a list of the loans that might fit your situation. Click on "Start Here" on the GovBenefits.gov homepage to start.

The search function finds benefit programs related to the words or phrases you enter into the search box. There are three methods for searching the website:

• To find a program using a phrase, enter the phrase in quotes:
  "Mortgage Insurance" This search will return all benefit programs related to the phrase "Mortgage Insurance.”

• To find a program containing two or more specific words, enter each of the words preceded by a plus:
  +Home +Insurance This search will return all benefit programs related to the words "home" and "insurance.”

• To find a program containing any one of a number of words, enter the word with a space between each:
  Home Flood This will return all benefit programs related to either the word "home" or "flood.”

Phrases and words can be combined, for example: "Flood Insurance" +Home or “Flood Insurance" home.

Eligible beginning farmers and ranchers are also given first priority to purchase acquired properties taken into Government inventory.

In order to get a 7(a) loan, the applicant must first be eligible. Repayment ability from the cash flow of the business is a primary consideration in the SBA loan decision process but good character, management capability, collateral, and owner's equity contribution are also important considerations. All owners of 20 percent or more are required to personally guarantee SBA loans. For more information, see http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/sbaloantopics/7a/index.html

Applications have been provided by SBA to all lenders that actively participate with us. Applications can be obtained from the lender you will be working with, or at your local SBA Office. Many forms are also available online at http://www.sba.gov/tools/forms/index.html. However, since there are several variations of SBA's loan programs, a business should always check with the lender or SBA District Office before filling out an application. See also http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/loanapplication/applyLoan/index.html.

SBA has several different loan programs. Each of the programs is designed to cover a variety of business, needs, thus providing the most options to small businesses. (More on SBA's Loan Programs: http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/sbaloantopics/snapshot/index.html). As the programs are delivered by SBA's partners and are not direct loans from SBA, businesses should consult their District offices or contact the lending partners in their area before filling out any applications. Contact a local lender and discuss your loan proposal with one of their loan officers. Be prepared to discuss your proposal in detail with the lender. You should have the following available for the lenders review: your business plan; your personal financial statements; your business financial statements (if already a business); collateral available to secure the loan; assumptions used in your projected earnings statements; management resumes of those involved in operating the business; and pro-forma balance sheets showing what the business would look like if the loan were granted. Be prepared to discuss your proposal in detail with the lender.

SBA does not set the interest rate on the loans, only the maximum rate the bank may charge. The actual rate is negotiated between the lender and the borrower. For more information on SBA's interest rates, please see http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/introsbafinance/sbarole/SERV_7A_INTRESTRATES.html.

At this time, Congress has not set aside any monies for grants to start and/or expand a small business. The U.S. Government does have grants that meet other purposes not related to business needs. The following website contains some of those resources: http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/grants/index.html. SBA does however provide a loan guaranty program for loans made by your local lender. The SBA guarantees loans that the lender could not normally approve. For information on this program and ALL of SBA's financial assistance, please go to http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/index.html.

No. The disaster loan is intended to help you return your property to the same condition it was in before the disaster. Your loan will be made for specific and designated purposes. Remember that the penalty for misusing disaster funds is immediate repayment of one-and-a-half times the original amount of the loan. The SBA requires that you obtain receipts and maintain good records of all loan expenditures as you restore your damaged property and that you keep these receipts and records for three years.

• Homeownership options to individuals
• Housing rehabilitation and preservation funding
• Rental assistance to tenants of Agency-funded multi-family housing complexes
• Farm labor housing
• Help to developers of multi-family housing projects, like assisted housing for the elderly and disabled, or apartment buildings
• Community facilities, such as libraries, child care centers, schools, municipal buildings, and firefighting equipment to Indian groups, nonprofit organizations, communities and local governments

The Rural Development Housing Program administers direct loans, loan guarantees and grants. Direct loans are made and serviced by RD staff, and loan guarantees are made to banks or other private lenders.

Contact the Rural Development Office near you for more information at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

For a list of Rural Development State Offices click on the following link: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

Yes. First review the information on the USDA website at http://rdhomeloans.usda.gov/. After you complete a customer profile and provide proof of identification to the local USDA Service Center, you can fill out and submit application forms to Rural Development electronically.

• For Housing loans, visit http://www.homeloans.va.gov/
  
• For loans on Veteran insurance programs, visit http://www.insurance.va.gov/