See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 5, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Austin, MN (2026)
Austin is the county seat of Mower County, located in southeastern Minnesota near the Iowa border, with a population of roughly 26,400 and a median home price near $167,000 (one of the most affordable larger cities in the state). Austin is home to a unique local program: the Austin/Mower County Home Ownership Fund, created jointly in 1997 by the City of Austin and Mower County, offers a 2% interest loan up to $6,000 to help cover down payment, closing costs, or rehabilitation needed to purchase a home anywhere in Mower County. State programs add significant capacity on top: Minnesota Housing offers up to $18,000 through the Deferred Payment Loan, up to $17,000 through the Monthly Payment Loan, and up to $35,000 through the First-Generation Homebuyer Loan Program (forgivable over five years). With Austin's low median home price, even modest assistance can cover a large share of the down payment and closing costs, making this one of the most accessible homebuying markets in Minnesota.
County Programs in Mower County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin/Mower County Home Ownership Fund | Repayable Loan | Up to $6,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $6,000
- First-time only:
- No
State Programs in Minnesota
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota First-Generation Homebuyer Loan Program | Deferred Loan | Up to ,000 | Yes | View → |
| Minnesota Housing Deferred Payment Loan | Deferred Loan | Up to ,500 | Yes | View → |
| Minnesota Housing Monthly Payment Loan | Repayable Loan | Up to ,000 | No | View → |
| Minnesota Housing Start Up Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | First mortgage with as little as 3% down | Yes | View → |
| Minnesota Housing Step Up Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | First mortgage; can also be used to refinance | No | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to ,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to ,500
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to ,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- First mortgage with as little as 3% down
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- First mortgage; can also be used to refinance
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The Austin/Mower County Home Ownership Fund is available to buyers purchasing in the City of Austin or anywhere in Mower County. Most Minnesota Housing programs require first-time homebuyer status (no homeownership in the past three years), a credit score of at least 640, and income within program limits.
Contact Tom Dankert at the City of Austin at 507-437-9959 to learn about the Austin/Mower County Home Ownership Fund, confirm current funding availability, and start your application.
Complete homebuyer education. Approved Home Stretch courses are available online and through nonprofit partners across Minnesota. The Minnesota Homeownership Center maintains a list of approved providers at hocmn.org.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage with a Minnesota Housing-approved lender. Ask specifically about the Start Up loan program for first-time buyers and the Step Up program if you are a repeat buyer or want to refinance.
Discuss down payment assistance options. The Minnesota Housing Deferred Payment Loan (up to $18,000), Monthly Payment Loan (up to $17,000), and First-Generation Homebuyer Loan (up to $35,000) all pair with a Minnesota Housing first mortgage and can layer with the Austin/Mower County Home Ownership Fund.
Find a home in Austin or anywhere in Mower County. If you are buying in an eligible rural area, ask your lender about USDA Rural Development financing, which offers 100% financing.
Submit your applications and close on your home as your primary residence.