Why does down payment vary across Minnesota?

Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.

Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.

Can I find lower-down options?

Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.

Buyer authority MN

Estimated owner-finance down payment by city in Minnesota.

Down payments scale with home prices but flex by financing type. This ranks Minnesota cities by an estimated typical down payment on an owner-financed or low-down deal (12% of estimated median home value). This is a modeled directional comparison, not a survey of actual closings.

Last updated September 2026

Minnesota ranking

50 cities ranked. Click any row for the matching local page.

#	City	Est. typical down payment	Score
1	Wayzata	$64,300	37	View →
2	Excelsior	$60,000	42	View →
3	Minneapolis	$56,400	46	View →
4	Eden Prairie	$56,500	46	View →
5	Lakeville	$55,600	47	View →
6	Prior Lake	$55,800	47	View →
7	Osseo	$54,700	48	View →
8	Rochester	$53,600	49	View →
9	Savage	$53,900	49	View →
10	Saint Paul	$52,700	50	View →
11	Andover	$53,200	50	View →
12	Stillwater	$52,700	50	View →
13	Chanhassen	$53,400	50	View →
14	Lake Elmo	$52,900	50	View →
15	Shakopee	$51,200	52	View →
16	Rosemount	$51,200	52	View →
17	Chaska	$51,200	52	View →
18	Minnetonka	$51,100	52	View →
19	Cottage Grove	$50,400	53	View →
20	Inver Grove Heights	$50,000	53	View →
21	Farmington	$50,200	53	View →
22	Circle Pines	$50,600	53	View →
23	Mound	$49,900	53	View →
24	Rogers	$49,200	54	View →
25	Elk River	$48,700	55	View →
26	Hopkins	$47,600	56	View →
27	Hastings	$47,400	56	View →
28	Hugo	$47,900	56	View →
29	Saint Michael	$47,500	56	View →
30	Cedar	$47,400	56	View →
31	Jordan	$47,200	56	View →
32	Champlin	$46,700	57	View →
33	Waconia	$46,300	57	View →
34	Albertville	$47,000	57	View →
35	Delano	$46,600	57	View →
36	Burnsville	$44,500	59	View →
37	Anoka	$44,900	59	View →
38	Big Lake	$44,800	59	View →
39	New Prague	$44,900	59	View →
40	Becker	$43,800	60	View →
41	Forest Lake	$43,200	61	View →
42	Sartell	$43,400	61	View →
43	Wyoming	$43,400	61	View →
44	Baxter	$43,200	61	View →
45	Lindstrom	$43,000	61	View →
46	Northfield	$41,800	62	View →
47	Buffalo	$41,000	63	View →
48	Monticello	$41,600	63	View →
49	Zimmerman	$40,000	64	View →
50	Owatonna	$39,100	65	View →

Methodology

Estimated down = 12% of estimated median home value (representative of owner-financed and low-down deals). Conventional loans typically require 20%; FHA can be 3.5%. Use as a directional comparison.

FAQ

Why does down payment vary across Minnesota?: Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.
Is 12% realistic?: Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.
Can I find lower-down options?: Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.