How it works
Sign in
Use the email and temporary password we gave you. You will choose your own password the first time.
Answer the questionnaire
Tell us about your household, work, income, assets, debts and housing. Save and come back any time.
Upload documents
You will see a checklist. Upload each item as you get it. You don't have to do it all at once.
Follow your progress
See your stage, what is accepted, and any corrections we need, and send us a message from the portal.
Helpful to have ready
Documents people commonly need
- Photo ID for each adult in the household
- Recent pay stubs (2 months) and last 2 years of W-2s
- Last 2 years of tax returns, all pages
- Bank statements, last 2 months, every page
- Benefit award letters (Social Security, pension, VA)
- Statements for loans and credit cards
- Lease or mortgage statement, and landlord contact
- Purchase contract for the home, if you have one
Your personal checklist inside the portal is the final word. It may have more or fewer items depending on your situation.
Tips for good uploads
- PDF, JPG, PNG, HEIC, Word or Excel files, up to 15 MB each
- Phone photos are fine if every page is flat, bright and readable
- Include every page, even blank ones or the back of a page
- One document per upload slot
- If we ask for a correction, upload the new file in the same slot. Your earlier version is kept.
Your privacy and who can see your documents
- Only you and your loan packager can see your file. No other applicant can.
- Your documents are stored encrypted, away from the public website.
- You decide whether the reviewers assigned to your file can view each document. Use the Share and Block buttons on your Documents page any time.
- Your loan packager always has access, because they prepare your application.
- Please don't email Social Security numbers or ID photos. Upload them in the portal instead.
Self-help
I haven't received my sign-in details
Your loan packager creates your account and sends you the email address and a temporary password. Check your spam folder first. If you still don't have it, contact us (details below) and we'll resend it.
I forgot my password or I'm locked out
After 5 wrong attempts the account locks for 15 minutes. Wait, then try again carefully. If you still can't get in, contact us and we'll issue a new temporary password. You will choose a new one when you sign in.
Can I stop and finish later?
Yes. Press Save progress on any section of the questionnaire. When you sign back in, everything you entered is still there. You can also upload documents one at a time as you get them.
My upload didn't work
- Check the file is a PDF, JPG, PNG, HEIC, Word or Excel file and under 15 MB.
- If it's a large photo, try sending it as a PDF or taking a smaller photo.
- Make sure the file isn't password-protected.
- Still stuck? Send us a message from your portal home page and tell us what the error says.
I made a mistake in my questionnaire
Open the section, fix the answer, and press Save. You can edit even after submitting. We're notified of the change.
I don't have a document on the checklist
Skip it for now and upload the rest. Send us a message in the portal explaining which item you can't get. Some items don't apply to everyone, and we will mark them Not Applicable.
What do the document statuses mean?
- Requested: we are waiting for this from you.
- Uploaded: we received it and haven't looked yet.
- Under Review: we are checking it.
- Accepted: it's good. Nothing more needed.
- Correction Required: something needs fixing. Read our note and upload a new version.
- Not Applicable: you don't need to provide this one.
What are the application stages?
Your file moves through: Initial Intake, Document Collection, Packager Review, Financial Analysis, Preliminary Assessment, Property Review, Application Packaging, Intermediary Quality Review, and USDA Submission and Follow-Up. You can see the current stage on your portal home page.
Does using the portal mean I'm approved?
No. The portal helps us collect and organize your information and prepare your application package. It does not approve or deny loans and does not replace official USDA forms. Eligibility and final decisions are made by USDA Rural Development.
Which device or browser should I use?
Any current phone, tablet or computer with an up-to-date browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox) works. Always check the address bar shows a secure connection (a padlock) before signing in.
Need a hand?
We're glad to help. Reach us here: