Mpls says loan to lure home buyers worked

Boarded houses
Hundreds of abandoned and boarded houses in north Minneapolis are vacant because of foreclosure.
MPR Photo/Dan Olson

Minneapolis city officials say a loan program designed to bring residents into areas hard hit by foreclosures, is a success.

More than three-fourths of people who bought homes in Minneapolis using the program are first-time home buyers.

The Minneapolis Advantage Program provides $10,000-loans to people who buy homes in specific neighborhoods.

City officials say they received more than 700 applications for the 50 available loans.

Eligible buyers had to be able to qualify for a prime rate mortgage. And so far, 45 of the 50 loans have closed.

A majority of the home buyers in the program are under 36 years old and white. And one in three of the buyers moved from the suburbs or St. Paul to buy into Minneapolis.

The loans can be used for closing costs, renovation or a downpayment. If the home buyer stays in the property for at least five years, the loan is forgiven.

Dear reader,

Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?

You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!

Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.

Volume Button
Volume
Now Listening To Livestream
Cathy Wurzer
On Air
Morning Edition with Cathy Wurzer