This page is currently under review by our community-based Steering Committee. Please check back for updates.
Not quite ready to apply for home ownership?
We've created some worksheets, and links to resources to help you prepare.
RESOURCES:
First time home buyers programs
Minnesota Homebuyer Education Programs
Veterans or Active Military
US Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Disabled
Grants and home loans for disabled home buyers in 2023
Overcoming Common Home Buyer Hurdles
How to raise your mortgage FICO score
How to get a loan with a high debt-to-income ratio
Financial Counseling
Mortgage Calculators
Government Agencies & Resources
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Minnesota Home Ownership Center
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
Down Payment Assistance
MHFA (MN) Mortgage and Downpayment Loan Programs (mnhousing.gov) (zero interest loans) from MHFA ($17,000 payment loan, $12,500 deferred loan only available with MHFA Mortgages)
WHEDA (WI) Available Programs | WHEDA
(DPA loans are zero interest within income limits or same as mortgage)
CBC Chenoa Fund Down Payment Assistance Programs
(loan is forgivable only after 30 year mortgage is paid off) CBC Mortgage Chenoa Fund (native corporation, unclear if only available to native people)
CAD FAIM 3:1 Match FAIM Matched Savings Account (communityactionduluth.org) (income and asset limits, timelines)
GNDH Suggested Mortgage Lenders
National Bank of Commerce
Mortgage Options other than obvious choices:
Sunrise Bank - Twin Cities based socially responsible bank with lots of mortgage options: Home Mortgage Lending | Sunrise Banks Minnesota
Community development financial institutions:
Native-owned Bank with branch in Cloquet:
Home Mortgage | Woodlands National Bank | Onamia
Section 184 Guarantee loan for tribal members: mortgage_lending_process_REVISED_02-09-2006.ai (woodlandsnationalbank.com)
Black-owned Bank offering mortgages:
Home | Columbia Savings & Loan Association (columbiasavingsandloans.com)
MHFA Mortgages offer down payment assistance loans through several local banks: Find a Lender (mn housing.gov)
ITTN Mortgages (for non-citizens): Center Releases Guide to Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Mortgages in Minnesota - HOCMN
USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program (if we build outside Duluth/Superior): Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans in Minnesota | Rural Development (usda.gov)
* These worksheets are NOT required for application. They are just tools to help you get a clearer financial picture.
INCOME WORKSHEET:
Your annual Income before taxes: $_______________
Co-applicant’s annual Income before taxes: $_______________
All other household annual income $_______________
TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $_______________*
(*Total income defined as the total gross income received by ALL members of a household over 18 within a 12-month period.)
What is your total household size? ______________
Household Area Median Income (AMI): ☐ 100-115% AMI
Mortgage pre-qualification letter. In addition to meeting our income guidelines, we will ask that you provide GNDH with a mortgage pre-qualification letter. A pre-qualification or pre-approval letter is a document from a lender stating that the lender is tentatively willing to lend to you, up to a certain loan amount. This document is based on certain assumptions and it is not a guaranteed loan offer.
See the list for mortgage lenders we highly recommend .
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AFFORDABILITY WORKSHEET:
To help determine what your household can afford for monthly mortgage payment:
TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME* $ ______________
Divided by 12 (months) = $ ______________
x .30 (30%) = $_______________**
* Include income of all household members over 18
** Housing expenses (including your mortgage payment and associated taxes and insurance) should be no more than 30% of your total Household Income at time of purchase to be considered affordable.
YOUR CURRENT BILLS:
What is your current mortgage/rent payment? $_______________
How much do you currently pay for utilities per month?
Electric $_______________
Gas $_______________
Water $_______________
Other $_______________
TOTAL $_______________
TOTAL current Mortgage/Rent + total utilities $_______________
GNDH Homes are 100% electric (use no natural gas or propane). Affordable because many of the utility expenses are reduced (our homes use only 30% of the energy required by comparable sized homes) or virtually eliminated if the home is equipped with solar panels (net zero).
What are your debts?*
Credit Card(s) balance $_______________
Educational Loan(s) $_______________
Vehicle Loan(s) $_______________
Boat or ATV Loan(s) $_______________
Child care $_______________
Other Loan(s) or Debt(s) $_______________
TOTAL $_______________
