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The Home Ownership for Me Down-payment Loan program is available in Becker County.

This second-mortgage loan is available to qualified buyers for purchase of a home as their primary residence. There are no monthly payments and no interest on the loan, but it must be repaid when the home is sold or at the maturity of the first mortgage.

A loan is available to households who are employed and reside in Becker County and who meet income guidelines. Guidelines for family sizes of 1-4 are below – larger families also are eligible.

Household size

80% AMI

Loan Amount

115% SMI

Loan Amount

1 Person

$46,700

Up to $5,000

$104,000

Up to $3,000

2 Person

$53,350

Up to $5,000

$104,000

Up to $3,000

3 Person

$60,000

Up to $5,000

$119,600

Up to $3,000

4 Person

$66,650

Up to $5,000

$119,600

Up to $3,000

The program is being operated by Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (MMCDC). In order to receive a HOMe loan, buyers must qualify for and receive a first mortgage through MMCDC or another source, such as local banks. Income limits are updated annually, based upon federal income guidelines.

“To help ensure long-term success, all HOMe borrowers participate in free homebuyer education and housing counseling,” MMCDC President Julia Nelmark said.

The effort started with participation in a Housing Institute offered by Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP), a statewide affordable housing nonprofit. Home Ownership for Me resulted from their discussions, which focused in part on housing needs of the Becker County workforce.

“The Homeownership for Me program is a perfect example of how local stakeholders can work collaboratively to address housing needs in their community,” said Barbara Dolan, MHP Deputy Director, Community Development.

Participants in the Minnesota Housing Partnership Housing Institute in Detroit Lakes included the Becker County Economic Development Authority, Essentia Health, the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership, the City of Frazee, the City of Detroit Lakes, Midwest Bank, Detroit Lakes Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and MMCDC. Funding providers have included Becker County EDA, Detroit Lakes Development Authority, City of Frazee, Essentia Health, BTD and Arvig.

For an application, click here to go to the HOMe page .

MMCDC’s offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in honor of Presidents Day. See you Tuesday!

Eleventh Avenue Apartments offers secure, well-maintained housing near the Detroit Lakes Middle School and Roosevelt Elementary School. Currently we have a 3-bedroom unit for rent. All units are income-restricted. This family-friendly neighborhood also is located near a bike trail, dental services, a church, and the Head Start and Boys and Girls Club locations. Go to the Affordable Rental Housing page for other details or use the online pre-application on the Eleventh Avenue web page.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your interest; this space is no longer available.

Open your business in downtown Detroit Lakes, Minn.! The office at 119 Graystone Plaza, Suite 106, is available for rent. Visible from Highway 10, the office is within walking distance of a post office, courthouse, chamber of commerce, library, grocery store, restaurants, shopping and other amenities, as well as recreational, arts and cultural opportunities. A city parking lot is just a block away!

The office is located on the main floor of The Graystone Hotel and is in the northwest corner of the building. It features oversized windows, high ceilings, and historic tile flooring in the main area. A private break room is attached. 

The adjacent lobby offers ample space for client waiting along with publicly accessible restrooms off the downstairs lobby, which is served by an elevator and stairs. Parking access is complimentary and available on and off street.

This building is locally managed by MMCDC, which has offices across the lobby. Call our rental management office at 218-847-5641 for more information or a showing. 

(This opportunity was previously posted as a limited-term rental. It is now available for an extended term.)

The office can be accessed directly from the street or from the lobby. Lobby entries are available at both the front and the rear of the building and are open to the public during office hours.

 

 

 

MMCDC is accepting applications for its downtown Detroit Lakes, Minn., rental units. All units are income-restricted, and rent is all-inclusive.

Situated at Detroit Lakes’ primary downtown intersection, the Graystone Hotel and Graystone Annex are convenient to local shopping, offices, restaurants and off-street parking.

Both buildings have secured entrances, elevators and coin-operated laundry service on each floor. For information click on Rental Housing, or call 218-847-5641.

Graystone Annex, center, Detroit Lakes, Minn. Apartments are located on the upper two floors. Graystone Hotel, Detroit Lakes, Minn. Apartments are located on the upper two floors. Rear view of Graystone Annex apartment, at left. Main level lobby, Graystone Hotel.

 

 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has named Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (MMCDC) a New Markets Tax Credit allocatee in its most recent round.

We look forward to using this new $75 million allocation to drive more investment into communities that lack access to capital, including rural and Native Areas in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.” — MMCDC President Julia Nelmark

The New Markets Tax Credit recently was made a permanent part of the U.S. tax code.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the One Big Beautiful Bill made the NMTC program permanent,” Treasury Secretary Scott K.H. Bessent said in a press release. “Investors, businesses, and communities now have the long-term certainty they need to plan ahead…” 

In its publications, Treasury notes the program leverages tax incentives with additional private financing to make flexible loans and investments available at attractive rates and terms in communities in need of revitalization. The program has garnered strong bipartisan support.

MMCDC is a prior recipient of the program, with significant experience directing New Markets Tax Credit investments to a wide range of manufacturing, health care and community facilities. It was an early adopter of the Small Loan Fund model, which helps extend the program’s benefits to projects – including small, rural businesses and communities — for which the financing might otherwise be unaffordable and inaccessible.

Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation is a private nonprofit company providing commercial and home mortgage lending, as well as housing, business and community development services throughout Minnesota, the Upper Midwest, and beyond. It also is the parent company of a reservation-focused community development company. MMCDC is based in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

MMCDC President Julia Nelmark

 

Not everyone is ready to buy, and that’s okay. In this episode of The Community Effect, we sit down with Rick Guzman, Executive Director of The Neighbor Project, to explore how rental housing can become a pathway to financial empowerment. The Neighbor Project’s Breakthrough Rental program challenges the idea that renting is a dead end. Instead, it helps families build credit, reduce debt, and save for a down payment; transforming affordable units into stepping stones toward long-term stability and homeownership.

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In this episode of The Community Effect, Marietta Rodriguez, NeighborWorks America President & CEO, talks with Sarah Kackar (NeighborWorks America) and Ramsey Cohen (Clayton) about innovation, inclusive zoning and how partnerships are reshaping housing opportunities for rural communities.

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In this episode of The Community Effect, we speak with three leaders who helped rebuild the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina: Terri North (Providence Community Housing), Bill Bynum (HOPE Credit Union) and Kathy Laborde (Gulf Coast Housing Partnership). They share what it took to lead through crisis, what has changed since 2005 and how they are still building strong communities today.

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach and State Rep. Jim Joy visited MMCDC’s offices July 31 to discuss rural business development, revitalization and affordable housing.

MMCDC’s Julia Nelmark and Tim Swenson shared the company’s experience in utilizing the federal New Markets Tax Credit, the Low-income Housing Tax Credit, NeighborWorks America funding, and other programs to support rural areas in need of reinvestment.

U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach and State Rep. Jim Joy, both at right, met with MMCDC’s President Julia Nelmark and Vice President of New Markets Tax Credit Financing Tim Swenson on Thursday, July 31, in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

The visit took place at the Historic Graystone Hotel in Detroit Lakes, Minn., which was redeveloped using the Low-income Housing Tax Credit and other programs. Today it houses several for-profit and nonprofit offices, including MMCDC’s, as well as affordable apartments.

Congresswoman Fischbach (R-Minnesota) represents the state’s Seventh Congressional District and Rep. Joy (R-Hawley) represents House District 4B in the Minnesota Legislature; both districts encompass Detroit Lakes and other rural communities.