First-time buyers · Twin Cities
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Eden Prairie, Edina, Bloomington, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Burnsville, Lakeville, Shakopee and everything in between — Shane's Minnesota office is in Eden Prairie, so the metro is home turf. Here is how buying works here, what help exists, and what to do first.
Where buyers are looking in Twin Cities
Licensed statewide in Minnesota — these are just the areas that come up most. Any address in the Twin Cities works.
Down payment help in the Twin Cities
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 alongside the mortgage. Income and purchase-price limits apply by county, and a homebuyer education course is part of the deal.
Shane · Branch Sales Manager · Loan OfficerBuying in the Twin Cities, specifically
Minneapolis and St. Paul both require sellers to complete a Truth-in-Sale of Housing evaluation before listing, and the report is available to buyers up front. It is not a substitute for your own inspection, but it is a free early look at the roof, furnace, plumbing and required repairs — Shane and your agent read it before you write.
A lot of suburban first homes are townhomes, which means an association. Dues count in your qualifying payment, and the association itself has to pass muster for the loan. Shane reviews both so the townhome that fits your budget on paper fits it at closing too.
The core cities have one of the deepest duplex and triplex markets in the region. FHA and some conventional programs let you buy a 2–4 unit building as a primary residence with a low down payment and count part of the rental income toward qualifying. Shane runs both scenarios so you can compare the real payment.
Loan programs for Twin Cities 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 communities across western Wisconsin and Minnesota — most of the Chippewa Valley qualifies.
Learn more →Wisconsin and Minnesota both have real down payment help — WHEDA and Minnesota Housing 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 real estate agent and Shane 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.
the Twin Cities first-time buyer questions
Twin Cities buyers can use conventional loans with 3% down, FHA with 3.5% down, VA with $0 down for eligible buyers, USDA with $0 down in eligible outer-ring communities, and Minnesota Housing's Start Up program for down payment and closing cost assistance.
A city-required evaluation of a home's condition that sellers in Minneapolis and St. Paul must complete before listing. It flags required repairs and gives buyers an early look at major systems. It does not replace a buyer's own inspection.
Yes. Association dues are included in the monthly housing payment used to qualify you, so a townhome with high dues qualifies for a slightly lower purchase price than a single-family home with none. The association must also meet lender requirements.
Manor Mortgage works from Fairway Home Mortgage's Eden Prairie, MN office. Shane is licensed in Minnesota (NMLS #1828892), covering every Twin Cities community and the rest of the state.
the Twin Cities buyers
After that it's just a conversation. Text Shane what you're wondering about buying in the Twin Cities — tonight is fine.
Applications happen on Fairway's secure site — never here.
