A Process That's Clear. Communication That Shows Up. A Team Built to Close.

Minnesota Housing runs Start Up for first-time buyers and Step Up for repeat buyers and refinances, both offering competitive fixed rates through approved lenders. Either can pair with down payment and closing cost help — a Monthly Payment Loan, or a Deferred Payment Loan that requires no monthly payment until you sell or refinance. Assistance amounts, income limits and purchase price limits change periodically and homebuyer education is required, so check current terms before planning around them.

FHA generally allows scores down to 580 with 3.5% down. Conventional typically starts around 620. VA and USDA commonly look for 620 or better depending on the lender. Minnesota Housing programs carry their own minimums. Beyond approval, your score moves both your rate and your mortgage insurance, so small improvements before applying can be worth real money.

Yes. Two years of tax returns work for conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans. If your returns show heavy write-offs that understate actual cash flow, bank statement loans qualify you on 12 or 24 months of deposits instead. This is one of the most common reasons a self-employed borrower gets told no somewhere else and yes here.

Most purchase loans close in 30 to 45 days from accepted offer, with pre-approval typically taking one to three business days once documentation is in. Appraisal scheduling is the most common source of delay, particularly outside the Twin Cities metro and during peak spring volume.

Yes. DSCR loans qualify on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — no tax returns, no debt-to-income review. They're the standard tool for investors whose returns understate cash flow or who've reached conventional financing limits.

I'm licensed in Iowa and Minnesota, serving buyers from Des Moines to the Twin Cities through Key Mortgage Group.

The conforming limit for a single-unit property is $832,750 in standard-cost counties, and anything above that is a jumbo with stricter credit, reserve and down payment requirements. VA loans have no limit for veterans with full entitlement. These figures change annually, so confirm the current number before planning around it.

Same as anywhere: zero down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and a one-time funding fee that's usually financed into the loan and waived entirely for veterans receiving compensation for a service-connected disability. For anyone eligible it's typically the strongest product available. Eligibility is confirmed through a Certificate of Eligibility.

Yes, across much of the state outside the Twin Cities urbanized core, subject to household income limits. Plenty of communities within commuting distance of the metro still qualify. Eligibility is tied to the specific property address, so it's always worth checking rather than assuming a town is excluded.

Not as a percentage — the minimums are the same. But Twin Cities prices run well above Iowa's, so the same 3% or 3.5% is a larger dollar figure. That's where Minnesota Housing down payment assistance and, for eligible buyers, zero-down VA and USDA options make the most difference.

Usually, after a waiting period that depends on the loan type and the event. FHA generally requires two years after a Chapter 7 discharge and three after a foreclosure; conventional periods run longer; VA is often more flexible. Extenuating circumstances can shorten some of them. If you're near the edge of a window, get the exact date confirmed rather than guessing.

Two most recent pay stubs, two years of W-2s or tax returns, two months of complete bank statements, and a photo ID — plus a DD-214 or Certificate of Eligibility for VA, or 12 to 24 months of bank statements if we're going the self-employed route. Having it assembled before you apply is the easiest way to protect your closing date.