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2025 eNews in Review
DPA Funds and Real Estate Agent Commission
DPA Funds Ineligible to Pay for Real Estate Agent Commission – 1/15/2025:
Minnesota Housing downpayment and closing cost loans cannot be used to pay for real estate agent commissions in transactions. We continue to monitor the real estate market for changes resulting from the National Association of REALTORS® settlement and impacts to borrowers and will re-evaluate our policies as neccessary based on market and financial conditions.
Program Changes Effective March 3
Home Mortgage Program Changes March 3 – 2/11/2025
Deferred Payment Loan (DPL) and Deferred Payment Loan Plus (DPL+) Programs:
- Loan amount changes for DPL reduced to $14,000, and no changes to DPL+ (maximum loan amount of $18,000).
- DPL/DPL+ Income Limits decreased to 80% AMI
- DPL/DPL+ borrower must have a front end ratio of 28% or higher.
- Added First Generation Homebuyer as an additional qualifying criterion for DPL+
Monthly Payment Loan (MPL) Program:
- Maximum loan amount reduced from $18,000 to $14,000
- When using MPL with Step Up, new lower income limits will apply.
Review the Frequently Asked Questions to Program Changes effective March 3
2025 Income Limits
New Income Limits Effective 6/2/2025 – 5/28/2025
2025 Income Limits for Start Up, DPL/DPL+, Step Up and Monthly Payment Loan
Start Up Income Eligibility Worksheet
Start Up Income Eligibility Worksheet Updates – 6/11/2025
Start Up Income Eligibility Worksheet updated to provide clarification on custodial income for a minor and include a definition for a gig job, and instructions on how to calculate the income.
Updates to the Start Up and Step Up Procedural Manuals
Start Up & Step Up Procedural Manual Updates – 7/9/2025
We made updates to our Start Up and Step Up manuals to continue to protect homebuyers in Minnesota from unreasonable fees and closing costs.
First Generation Homebuyer Loan Program - Results
First Generation Homebuyer Loan Program Results – Success!! – 7/30/2025
The results of Minnesota Housing's First-Generation Homebuyer Loan Program were released, demonstrating its great success.
New and Updated Minnesota Housing Documents
Updates to Start Up Loan Program Affidavit and Assignment of Mortgage – 10/01/2025
Start Up Loan Program Affidavit
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Start Up Loan Program Affidavit (formally known as the Borrower Affidavit) was renamed and updated with the following changes:
- An occupying non-purchasing spouse, occupying co-signer and any other occupant who will be on title will be required to attest to and sign the affidavit along with the borrower(s). The signature page was updated as well.
Minnesota Housing Assignment of Mortgage Cover Letter: Settlement Agent Instructions
Update to the Start Up Loan Program Affidavit
We updated the Start Up Loan Program Affidavit. The text now correctly states:
The undersigned, hereinafter collectively referred to as “the Borrower,” along with all individuals categorized in subparagraphs (i) through (iii) above in this Affidavit (hereinafter referred to herein as the “Borrower Affiliates”), affirm as follows:
The commitment system and the Forms Guide and Glossary now have the updated version of the Start Up Loan Program Affidavit.
Reminder: 2025 Top Producing Loan Officer Eligibility Deadline is December 31
The Top Producing Loan Officer Program for Single Family Homeownership recognizes individual participating lender loan officers annually for closing the highest number of Minnesota Housing loans.
To be considered a Top Producer, loan officers must close a minimum of two loans during the calendar year, with the True and Certify process completed. If you’ve switched companies during the year, you’ll receive credit for all loans originated as a loan officer with a Minnesota Housing participating lender, as long as you are correctly set up with your new company in Minnesota Housing's commitment system during the recognition period.
Minnesota Housing will announce the Top Producers during the first quarter of 2026 and will post results on our website on the Lender Directory.
Contact your Business Relations Representative for additional information about the Minnesota Housing Top Producing Loan Officer Program for Single Family Homeownership Loans.
The Minnesota Housing Top Producing Loan Officer Program recognizes individual loan officers based solely on the number of Minnesota Housing first‐time homebuyer loans produced in one of the designated regions for the program on an annual basis. Designations are not intended as a formal referral or preference for individual loan officers and no financial or other measurable benefit is intended to be granted to loan officers on a preferential basis.
Upcoming Holiday Closures
Minnesota Housing will be closed on Thursday, December 25 and Thursday, January 1 for Christmas and New Year's Day. Lenders will be unable to lock new loans between 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before the office closure and 10 a.m. on the Friday after each holiday.
2026 Monthly Training Webinars
Join Minnesota Housing‘s webinar training series designed to help you successfully originate our loans. This instructor led training lays out the basics of our Start Up, Step Up, and Downpayment and Closing Cost Loans. You’ll learn how they work, what eligibility criteria is required as well as how to access tools and resources. Not to mention it’s a great opportunity to ask questions!
Monthly Update & Hot Topics Call
The Monthly Update & Hot Topics Call is for our lending and other community partners. During these calls we review recent Minnesota Housing updates and important information to help you originate and process our loans. Lenders are welcome to submit questions or topics to discuss on the call. This is a great venue to have more in-depth discussion on advanced topics. If you are a consumer, please visit www.mnhousing.gov to learn more about the programs we offer, the resources available to you and to find a participating lender.
Register for the 2026 calls.
When you register, you will be signed up for all sessions in the series but can attend the sessions that work for you. Most calls occur on the second Thursday of the month from 9-10 a.m. Central time.
2026 Schedule:
- January 8
- February 12
- March 12
- April 9
- May 14
- June 11
- July 9
- August 13
- September 10
- October 8
- November 12
- December 10
Questions?
You can reach the Partner Solutions Team at 651.296.8215 or 800.710.8871 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on business days.
About Minnesota Housing
Minnesota Housing, the state’s housing finance agency, works to provide access to safe, stable and accessible housing Minnesotans can afford in a community of their choice. In 2024, we distributed $1.96 billion in resources and served 73,650 households. Visit our website to learn more.
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