First-time buyers · Minnesota
Ashland is based in Eden Prairie and has helped Minnesota first-time buyers since 2016 — Twin Cities, Rochester, St. Cloud, Duluth, Mankato and the small towns in between. Here is how buying works in Minnesota, what help exists, and what to do first.
Where Ashland's MN buyers are buying
Licensed statewide — these are just the communities that come up most. Any address in Minnesota works.
Down payment help in Minnesota
Minnesota Housing's Start Up program is built for first-time buyers (anyone who has not owned a home in the last three years). It pairs a Minnesota Housing first mortgage — conventional, FHA, VA or USDA — with down payment and closing cost loans: a Deferred Payment Loan with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell or refinance, or a Monthly Payment Loan with a small payment. Income and purchase-price limits vary by county and are updated periodically; Ashland checks your eligibility as part of pre-approval.
Ashland · Branch Sales Manager & Loan OfficerBuying in Minnesota, specifically
Minnesota property taxes vary a lot by city and school district, and they are a big slice of the monthly payment — often the difference between two otherwise identical houses. Ashland pulls the actual tax figure for any address before you write an offer, so the payment you planned for is the payment you get.
Buying in a Minnesota winter is normal — but roofs, grading and air conditioning are harder to inspect under snow. Build the right contingencies into the offer; your agent and Ashland will coordinate so the financing timeline matches the inspection timeline.
Large parts of Minnesota outside the metro core are USDA-eligible — many commuter towns included. If you are flexible on location, $0 down may be on the table. Ashland can check any address against the eligibility map in seconds.
Loan programs for Minnesota first-time buyers
The workhorse of home financing — flexible terms, competitive costs, and down payments as low as 3% for first-time buyers.
Learn more →The first-time buyer favorite — 3.5% down, friendlier credit requirements, and forgiving guidelines for real-life finances.
Learn more →For those who served — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the strongest terms in all of lending.
Learn more →$0 down for homes in eligible smaller communities across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa — far more towns qualify than buyers expect.
Learn more →Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa all have real down payment help — Minnesota Housing, WHEDA and Iowa Finance Authority programs can put thousands toward your down payment and closing costs.
Learn more →Six myths busted and the six-step path from first text to keys — the page to read before anything else.
Start here →How it works from Eden Prairie
Text, phone, video, secure document upload, and a closing at a title company near you. Your Minnesota real estate agent and Ashland talk directly at every milestone — offer-day numbers in minutes and a call to every listing agent included.
Timing varies by file and depends on receiving complete documentation. Turnaround figures are typical, not guaranteed. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement; not all customers will qualify. Rates, programs and terms are subject to change. All loans subject to credit and property approval.
Minnesota first-time buyer questions
Minnesota first-time buyers can use conventional loans with as little as 3% down, FHA with 3.5% down, VA or USDA with $0 down for eligible buyers, and Minnesota Housing's Start Up program, which adds deferred or monthly-payment down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible households.
As little as 3% on a conventional loan, 3.5% on FHA, or $0 on VA and USDA loans for eligible buyers. Minnesota Housing assistance may cover some or all of the down payment and closing costs for eligible households.
First-time buyers — generally anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years — who meet the program's income and purchase-price limits for their county and complete homebuyer education. Ashland checks eligibility as part of pre-approval.
Yes. Ashland Alitz is licensed in Minnesota (MN-MLO-1584948) and is based at Fairway Home Mortgage's Eden Prairie, MN branch.
Minnesota buyers
After that it's just a conversation. Text Ashland what you're wondering about buying in Minnesota — tonight is fine.
Applications happen on Fairway's secure site — never here.
