Mortgage by CountyWhat home buyers actually paid, county by county

Independent analysis of official mortgage recordsHMDA 2025 · 7,155,718 applications

State report · HMDA 2025

Minnesota mortgages and home buyers, 2025

Incomes, down payments, rates, loan costs, denials and lenders across Minnesota's 87 counties, from official HMDA records.

HMDA 2025 data released June 23, 2026

In 2025, lenders reported 57,388 home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family homes in Minnesota. The median buyer borrowed $305,000 on a home valued at $365,000 and reported a household income of $107,000.

Buyers financed a median 90% of the home's value (roughly 10% down), paid a median 6.625% on 30-year fixed conventional loans and faced median conventional loan costs of $5,100.

Lenders denied 5.2% of completed home-purchase applications.

Purchase loans
57,388
639 lenders active
Buyer income
$107,000
U.S. $116,000
Down payment
10%
U.S. 10%
30-yr fixed rate
6.625%
U.S. 6.625%
Loan costs
$5,100
Conventional · U.S. $5,570
FHA limit 2026
$541K–$552K
1-unit home, by county

Key facts

  • Median conventional loan costs ($5,100) were 8% lower than the U.S. median ($5,570).
  • FHA loans made up 11.6% of purchase mortgages, versus 21.1% nationally.
  • The most common age bracket among borrowers was 25–34 (36.6% of purchase loans).
  • 49.5% of purchase mortgages had a single borrower with no co-applicant.
  • The most-cited reason for denial was debt-to-income ratio (36.1% of denials with a stated reason).

The 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 for a one-unit home in every Minnesota county. See every Minnesota county's 2026 FHA and conforming loan limits.

Minnesota counties compared

Click a column to sort. Medians shown with at least 30 loans.

CountyPurchase loansMedian loanBuyer incomeDown payment30-yr rateLoan costsDenial rateFHA limit
Aitkin County133$245,000$83,00010.0%6.625%$5,1506.3%$541,287
Anoka County4,148$325,000$105,00010.0%6.625%$5,3204.9%$552,000
Becker County274$275,000$101,0007.8%6.500%$5,1805.4%$541,287
Beltrami County193$235,000$85,0005.0%6.500%$5,2708.0%$541,287
Benton County403$265,000$87,0005.0%6.625%$4,7806.6%$541,287
Big Stone County32$155,000$75,00020.0%——8.3%$541,287
Blue Earth County514$255,000$94,0008.0%6.623%$5,2403.0%$541,287
Brown County217$185,000$74,0005.0%6.500%$4,5505.5%$541,287
Carlton County342$255,000$95,00010.0%6.625%$5,1406.6%$541,287
Carver County1,547$405,000$149,00020.0%6.575%$5,4203.4%$552,000
Cass County207$275,000$110,00015.0%6.625%$5,3306.6%$541,287
Chippewa County83$175,000$70,0003.5%6.625%$4,2408.6%$541,287
Chisago County637$335,000$109,0006.6%6.625%$5,3605.3%$552,000
Clay County696$245,000$93,0008.0%6.375%$4,7304.6%$541,287
Clearwater County52$185,000$70,0003.5%——3.6%$541,287
Cook County24——————$541,287
Cottonwood County76$155,000$60,0003.5%6.625%$3,9308.2%$541,287
Crow Wing County582$265,000$93,00010.0%6.525%$4,9905.1%$541,287
Dakota County5,068$345,000$115,00010.0%6.625%$5,1704.4%$552,000
Dodge County217$285,000$101,0007.0%6.500%$5,2004.3%$541,287
Douglas County325$285,000$98,00014.8%6.500%$5,2404.1%$541,287
Faribault County94$155,000$66,0005.0%6.500%$3,70015.4%$541,287
Fillmore County185$205,000$80,0005.0%6.500%$4,2705.5%$541,287
Freeborn County257$165,000$69,0005.0%6.625%$4,5105.7%$541,287
Goodhue County484$265,000$99,00010.0%6.525%$5,2403.9%$541,287
Grant County51$185,000$73,0005.0%—$4,80011.9%$541,287
Hennepin County12,898$335,000$124,00015.0%6.625%$5,2405.0%$552,000
Houston County176$235,000$92,00010.0%6.525%$3,0201.1%$541,287
Hubbard County120$295,000$101,0006.0%6.525%$5,18011.0%$541,287
Isanti County496$305,000$100,0005.0%6.625%$5,4807.3%$552,000
Itasca County348$235,000$94,0007.7%6.624%$5,2108.6%$541,287
Jackson County71$145,000$65,0004.0%—$3,95012.6%$541,287
Kanabec County133$275,000$93,0005.0%6.750%$5,2009.4%$541,287
Kandiyohi County325$235,000$90,0005.0%6.625%$4,8104.9%$541,287
Kittson County20——————$541,287
Koochiching County106$125,000$70,0008.8%6.625%$4,0406.8%$541,287
Lac qui Parle County33$135,000$66,0005.0%——15.4%$541,287
Lake County125$225,000$89,00010.0%6.500%$4,4209.3%$541,287
Lake of the Woods County25——————$541,287
Le Sueur County286$265,000$104,0006.5%6.500%$4,9008.5%$552,000
Lincoln County57$155,000$81,0005.0%6.625%$3,8303.4%$541,287
Lyon County187$195,000$77,0005.0%6.500%$4,2006.5%$541,287
McLeod County372$245,000$88,0005.0%6.625%$5,5903.6%$541,287
Mahnomen County35$175,000$79,0003.5%——7.5%$541,287
Marshall County60$155,000$67,0005.0%——6.0%$541,287
Martin County154$165,000$75,0005.0%6.500%$4,4207.7%$541,287
Meeker County185$235,000$87,0005.0%6.625%$5,1406.0%$541,287
Mille Lacs County318$265,000$92,0005.0%6.625%$4,8607.3%$552,000
Morrison County260$235,000$83,0005.0%6.625%$4,8706.3%$541,287
Mower County398$185,000$74,0005.0%6.625%$4,8407.1%$541,287
Murray County74$175,000$84,0005.0%6.625%$4,29010.7%$541,287
Nicollet County339$245,000$98,00010.0%6.575%$5,4103.6%$541,287
Nobles County142$225,000$76,0003.5%6.625%$4,6008.8%$541,287
Norman County52$165,000$71,0005.0%—$4,54014.8%$541,287
Olmsted County1,772$295,000$109,00010.0%6.500%$5,0204.2%$541,287
Otter Tail County396$225,000$91,00010.0%6.500%$4,7306.3%$541,287
Pennington County87$175,000$71,0003.5%6.500%$4,3204.3%$541,287
Pine County229$265,000$102,0005.1%6.625%$5,10011.1%$541,287
Pipestone County69$165,000$59,0005.1%—$4,68018.6%$541,287
Polk County242$215,000$91,0005.0%6.625%$5,2605.8%$541,287
Pope County68$205,000$80,00010.0%6.500%$4,1904.0%$541,287
Ramsey County4,609$295,000$98,00010.0%6.625%$4,9904.7%$552,000
Red Lake County24——————$541,287
Redwood County122$145,000$71,0005.0%6.500%$3,7909.5%$541,287
Renville County105$155,000$64,0005.0%6.500%$4,13010.3%$541,287
Rice County586$285,000$100,00010.0%6.625%$5,1205.3%$541,287
Rock County94$225,000$85,0005.0%6.473%$4,5606.7%$541,287
Roseau County98$195,000$91,0003.5%——3.0%$541,287
St. Louis County1,735$225,000$89,0007.5%6.625%$4,9504.7%$541,287
Scott County1,858$375,000$125,00013.7%6.525%$5,2305.5%$552,000
Sherburne County1,287$335,000$108,0006.9%6.625%$5,5905.1%$552,000
Sibley County155$235,000$89,0005.0%6.625%$4,3709.6%$541,287
Stearns County1,449$255,000$88,0005.0%6.625%$4,7005.3%$541,287
Steele County350$255,000$94,0005.0%6.625%$5,3604.7%$541,287
Stevens County59$155,000$80,00010.0%6.500%$4,3006.2%$541,287
Swift County70$155,000$75,0003.5%6.625%$4,20011.3%$541,287
Todd County178$185,000$71,0005.0%6.625%$4,5408.5%$541,287
Traverse County29—————3.3%$541,287
Wabasha County207$265,000$91,00010.0%6.500%$4,8207.3%$541,287
Wadena County76$185,000$70,0005.0%6.500%$4,1808.3%$541,287
Waseca County168$205,000$77,0005.0%6.500%$4,9705.6%$541,287
Washington County3,674$375,000$126,00012.8%6.625%$5,2104.4%$552,000
Watonwan County70$165,000$66,0003.5%——11.3%$541,287
Wilkin County51$185,000$73,0005.0%——7.1%$541,287
Winona County374$215,000$83,00010.0%6.525%$4,0603.1%$541,287
Wright County2,342$345,000$115,00010.0%6.589%$5,4205.7%$552,000
Yellow Medicine County60$155,000$73,0005.0%6.500%$3,93013.0%$541,287

Who bought homes in Minnesota

Home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family (1–4 unit) site-built homes, first liens, originated in 2025.

Purchase loans
57,388
of 61,746 applications
Buyer income
$107,000
Middle half $76,000–$161,000
Home value
$365,000
Middle half $275,000–$495,000
Loan amount
$305,000
Middle half $225,000–$405,000
Down payment
10%
39.3% put 20%+ down
Single borrower
49.5%
No co-applicant

Values are medians; "middle half" is the 25th to 75th percentile.

Loan type

Conventional 81.5% 46,793
FHA 11.6% 6,639
VA 6.1% 3,514
USDA 0.8% 442

What the homes were for

Primary residence 93.5% 58,514
Second home 2.9% 1,796
Investment property 3.6% 2,248

All first-lien, closed-end purchase mortgages, including second homes and investors.

Borrower age

Under 25 8.9%
25–34 36.6%
35–44 26.3%
45–54 13.5%
55–64 8.7%
65–74 4.6%
75 and over 1.4%

Debt-to-income ratio

Under 20% 3.6%
20–29% 14.7%
30–35% 17.0%
36–42% 26.6%
43–49% 32.8%
50–60% 5.0%
Over 60% 0.3%

Monthly debts (including the new payment) as a share of income, as used in underwriting.

What borrowing cost in Minnesota

Medians for 2025 home-purchase loans. Total loan costs are section D of the Loan Estimate/Closing Disclosure (lender and third-party loan charges, excluding taxes, prepaids and escrow). FHA and VA costs include the upfront mortgage insurance premium or VA funding fee, so compare like with like.

MeasureMinnesotaU.S.
30-year fixed rate · conventional6.625%6.625%
30-year fixed rate · FHA6.500%6.250%
30-year fixed rate · VA6.250%6.125%
15-year fixed rate · conventional5.875%5.875%
Rate spread vs. APOR · conventional+0.15 pts+0.13 pts
Total loan costs · conventional$5,100$5,570
Total loan costs · FHA$10,780$11,310
Total loan costs · VA$5,760$6,490
Origination charges (all loan types)$2,360$1,860
Borrowers paying discount points54.9%51.3%
Points paid, when paid (% of loan)0.79%0.87%
Borrowers receiving lender credits35.3%33.1%
Adjustable-rate mortgages5.4%7.4%
Jumbo loans (above conforming limit)1.9%3.8%

Medians are shown only when at least 30 loans report the field. Rates are those reported at closing; market rates changed during 2025, which the rate spread (APR minus the average prime offer rate on the lock date) adjusts for.

Approvals and denials

Minnesota: 3,238 of 61,746 completed home-purchase applications were denied (5.2%).

Denial rate

ApplicationMinnesotaU.S.
Home purchase5.2%8.5%
Conventional4.2%7.1%
FHA10.7%12.5%
VA7.2%8.0%
USDA10.2%12.5%
Refinance15.3%17.9%
Cash-out refinance31.1%33.6%

Main reason for purchase denials

Debt-to-income ratio 36.1%
Collateral (appraisal/property) 16.9%
Credit history 13.4%
Other 9.9%
Credit application incomplete 8.2%
Insufficient cash (down payment/closing costs) 6.6%
Unverifiable information 5.9%
Employment history 3.0%
Mortgage insurance denied 0.0%

First reason the lender reported.

Denial rate = denied ÷ (originated + approved but not accepted + denied). Withdrawn and incomplete applications are excluded. Differences between places reflect who applies, not only lender behavior.

Refinancing in Minnesota

Refinances
10,550
Median loan $315,000
Refi rate
6.25%
30-yr fixed, conv.
Refi loan costs
$4,360
Conventional
Cash-out refis
7,601
Median loan $235,000
Cash-out rate
6.875%
30-yr fixed, conv.
Cash-out income
$95,000
Median borrower

Top mortgage lenders in Minnesota

#LenderLoansShareDenial rate30-yr rate*Spread*Costs*
1 United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) 6,172 8.2% 6.3% 6.599% +0.18 $6,280
2 Bell Bank 4,713 6.2% 1.4% 6.625% +0.16 $5,100
3 Rocket Mortgage, LLC 4,060 5.4% 9.0% 6.625% +0.18 $5,310
4 CrossCountry Mortgage, Inc. 2,836 3.8% 1.4% 6.625% +0.31 $6,250
5 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation 2,203 2.9% 2.1% 6.750% +0.35 $5,370
6 U.S. Bank, N.A. 1,763 2.3% 6.0% 6.625% +0.05 $4,150
7 Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC 1,572 2.1% 2.0% 6.625% +0.21 $4,900
8 New American Funding 1,533 2.0% 2.0% 6.750% +0.39 $6,000
9 Pennymac Loan Services, LLC 1,527 2.0% 7.7% 6.624% +0.13 $5,430
10 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 1,308 1.7% 12.5% 6.500% −0.06 $4,070
11 Rate 1,292 1.7% 4.0% 6.600% +0.25 $5,150
12 Lennar Mortgage, LLC 1,282 1.7% 4.2% 6.125% −0.20 $4,500
13 Luminate Bank 1,148 1.5% 1.8% 6.625% +0.29 $7,040
14 Granite Bank 1,116 1.5% 3.5% 6.625% +0.29 $5,730
15 Veterans United Home Loans 1,106 1.5% 8.3% 6.375% +0.09 $3,790
16 Tradition Mortgage, LLC 1,030 1.4% 0.2% 6.625% +0.16 $5,060
17 Royal Credit Union 1,025 1.4% 2.5% 6.500% +0.21 $6,300
18 Old National Bank 915 1.2% 4.3% 6.500% −0.03 $4,250
19 Trustone Financial Credit Union 912 1.2% 7.5% 6.625% +0.05 $4,010
20 Alerus Financial, N.A. 906 1.2% 1.9% 6.625% +0.07 $4,190
21 loanDepot.com, LLC 860 1.1% 11.0% 6.625% +0.28 $6,460
22 Everett Financial, Inc. 796 1.1% 1.8% 6.875% +0.51 $7,130
23 Newrez LLC 787 1.0% 8.8% 6.625% +0.19 $5,300
24 Wings Financial Credit Union 757 1.0% 1.0% 6.375% −0.11 $3,970
25 Freedom Mortgage Corporation 748 1.0% 16.5% — — —

Largest lenders in Minnesota by 2025 originations. Loans = home-purchase, refinance and cash-out originations (2025); share = share of those loans here; denial rate = home-purchase applications. *Medians for conventional home-purchase loans, shown with at least 20 loans; spread = APR minus the average prime offer rate at rate lock (percentage points); costs = total loan costs (section D).

Metro areas in Minnesota

Source: FFIEC/CFPB HMDA 2025 public LAR; FHFA and HUD 2026 loan limits. Methodology