12 C.F.R. § 1282.35 – Rural markets.

(a) Duty in general. Each Enterprise must develop loan products and flexible underwriting guidelines to facilitate a secondary market for eligible mortgages on housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-income families in rural areas. Enterprise activities under this section must serve each such income group in the year for which the Enterprise is evaluated and rated.
(b) Eligible activities. Enterprise activities eligible to be included in an Underserved Markets Plan for the rural market are activities that facilitate a secondary market for mortgages on residential properties for very low-,low-, or moderate-income families in rural areas.
(c) Regulatory Activities. Enterprise activities related to the following are eligible to receive duty to serve credit under the rural market:
1. (1) High-needs rural regions. Housing in high-needs rural regions;
2. (2) High-needs rural populations. Housing for high-needs rural populations;
3. (3) Financing by small financial institutions of rural housing. Financing by a small financial institution of housing in a rural area; and
4. (4) Small multifamily rental properties in rural areas. Small multifamily rental properties that are located in a rural area.
(d) Additional Activities. An Enterprise may include in its Plan other activities to serve very low-, low-, or moderate-income families in rural areas consistent with paragraph (b) of this section, subject to FHFA determination of whether the activities are eligible to receive duty to serve credit.