Nov 8, 2026 · First-Time Buyers · MHFA
First home in Minnesota? Start with MHFA — here is the honest checklist
The biggest myth we hear: you need 20% down and perfect credit. For many Minnesota first-time buyers, Minnesota Housing changes that math entirely.
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What MHFA does: It combines a first mortgage with down payment and closing-cost help, so buyers with steady income but small savings can buy sooner — without draining their emergency fund to do it.
The checklist: 1) Confirm household income and the purchase price fit current MHFA limits for your county. 2) Take the short approved homebuyer-education course early — it is required and genuinely useful. 3) Get a real pre-approval before touring, with every cost mapped: payment, taxes, insurance, and cash to close. 4) Ask about our current offer of a free appraisal on MHFA loans for first-time buyers.
One caution: Assistance is a loan with terms, not free money — we show you exactly how it is repaid before you choose it. When it fits, it is one of the best tools in Minnesota housing. Book a call and we will run your numbers both ways.
Nov 3, 2026 · Buyers · Offers
Stop losing bidding wars: pre-approval strength is the real edge
In competitive Twin Cities listings, sellers do not just pick the highest price — they pick the offer most likely to close. Here is how strong buyers prove it.
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A pre-qualification is not a pre-approval. A rubber-stamp letter tells a listing agent almost nothing. A fully documented pre-approval — income, assets, and credit reviewed up front — tells them your file has already survived the hard questions.
Go one step further: Programs like Supreme Cash Advantage let qualified buyers shop with the confidence of a cash buyer, which changes how sellers rank your offer. Pair that with a lender who answers the listing agent's call the same day, and your offer reads as low-risk.
Realtors: this is why your lender choice is part of your offer strategy. A loan Ben says will close is closing — and listing agents in this market learn that fast.
Oct 27, 2026 · Self-Employed
Self-employed? Your tax return is not your income story
Business owners write off everything they legally can — then a lender reads the return and says the income is too low. Bank-statement loans exist for exactly this gap.
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How it works: Instead of tax returns, we document income from 12–24 months of bank statements, averaging deposits to show what the business actually produces. 1099 earners, freelancers, and owners with multiple entities use the same approach through alt-doc options.
What to gather: Business license or CPA letter, 12–24 months of statements, and a simple profit-and-loss if you have one. Expect a larger down payment than a standard conventional loan in many cases — we price both routes so you can compare honestly.
If another lender told you no because of your return, send us the file. Tricky files are a big part of what this team does — including turning other banks' denials into approvals.
Oct 20, 2026 · Investors · DSCR
DSCR loans, explained: when the rental qualifies itself
For investors, personal income paperwork is often the bottleneck. A DSCR loan flips the test: does the property's rent cover its payment?
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The ratio: DSCR = monthly rent ÷ monthly housing payment. A ratio at or above 1.0 means rent covers the payment. Stronger ratios, more down payment, and solid credit open better options across our 14 in-house DSCR programs.
Best fits: Long-term rentals in the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota, small multi-unit properties, and portfolio growth — including our 20% down portfolio loan with strong fixed pricing for qualified investors.
Watch the details: Prepayment steps, reserve requirements, and how market rent is documented vary by option. Bring us the address and the rent — we will run the property before you write the offer. New posts are added here as programs change, so check back or ask to be added to the Monday Mortgage Update.
