See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 4, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Saint Paul, MN (2026)
Saint Paul is Minnesota's capital and second-largest city, home to roughly 307,000 residents along the east bank of the Mississippi River. The median home price sits around 0,000, lower than Minneapolis but still requiring meaningful assistance for many first-time buyers. The City of Saint Paul runs the Citywide Downpayment Assistance Program offering up to ,000 (plus an extra ,000 for first-generation buyers) as a 15-year forgivable loan at 0% interest. Two reparative inheritance funds are also available: the Rondo Inheritance Fund offers ,000 to 0,000 to direct descendants of property owners displaced by I-94 construction, and the West Side Flats Inheritance Fund offers up to 0,000 for descendants of families displaced to build the Riverview Industrial Park. NeighborWorks Home Partners adds Community Keys Plus Impact (up to ,000) and the Welcome Home program. Rondo Community Land Trust and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity provide alternate paths through community land trust and affordable mortgage models. Stack a city DPA with Minnesota Housing's Start Up first mortgage, the Deferred Payment Loan (up to ,500), and the First-Generation Homebuyer Loan (up to ,000) for over ,000 in combined assistance.
City Programs in Saint Paul
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rondo Inheritance Fund Downpayment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | ,000 to 0,000 (up to 0,000 if the home is purchased within historic Rondo) | No | View → |
| Saint Paul Citywide Downpayment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to ,000 (additional ,000 available for first-generation homebuyers) | No | View → |
| West Side Flats Inheritance Fund Downpayment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 0,000 (additional funding available for buyers at or below 80% AMI) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- ,000 to 0,000 (up to 0,000 if the home is purchased within historic Rondo)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to ,000 (additional ,000 available for first-generation homebuyers)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 0,000 (additional funding available for buyers at or below 80% AMI)
- 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
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Keys Plus Impact Down Payment Assistance | Deferred Loan | Up to ,000 | No | View → |
| Rondo Community Land Trust Homebuyer Initiated Program (HIP) | Deferred Loan | Affordability Investment Grant plus a Rehab Grant for essential repairs; combined subsidy varies by home and household | No | View → |
| Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Repayable Loan | Affordable mortgage with monthly payments at or below 30% of household income; option to use TruePath Mortgage on the open market or purchase a Habitat-built or Habitat-renovated home | No | View → |
| Welcome Home Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Varies by household need | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to ,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Affordability Investment Grant plus a Rehab Grant for essential repairs; combined subsidy varies by home and household
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with monthly payments at or below 30% of household income; option to use TruePath Mortgage on the open market or purchase a Habitat-built or Habitat-renovated home
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Varies by household need
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. Most Saint Paul programs require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income, with the Citywide DPA also imposing a ,000 asset cap. The Inheritance Fund programs allow up to 100% AMI but require descendancy verification.
Complete homebuyer education. The Minnesota Homeownership Center's Home Stretch course is the standard. Local providers include NeighborWorks Home Partners and Project for Pride in Living. The class must be completed before signing a purchase agreement for most assistance programs.
Complete a financial wellness or counseling appointment. NeighborWorks Home Partners and Neighborhood Development Alliance (NeDA) offer 1
Get pre-approved with a participating lender. To layer Minnesota Housing Start Up or Step Up plus the Deferred Payment Loan or Monthly Payment Loan, work with a Minnesota Housing-approved participating lender.
Apply for the right city program. The Citywide DPA cycles open and close — check current status with the City of Saint Paul. Inheritance Fund applicants apply directly to the City's Inheritance Fund, with descendancy verification through the West Side Community Organization for the West Side Flats fund.
Find a home within program limits. Saint Paul programs apply to single-family, townhome, condo, and duplex purchases inside city limits. Rondo CLT homes can also be in suburban Ramsey County.
Submit and close. Your lender layers the city DPA, state DPA, and first mortgage at closing. Plan on 30-45 days from purchase agreement to close.