The East Central Housing Organization (ECHO) is a group of professionals that represent the East Central Minnesota region in various capacities related to housing and includes representatives from Central MN Housing Partnership, Chisago County HRA/EDA, Lakes and Pines Community Action Council, Mora HRA, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, East Central Regional Development Commission, 7 County Senior Federation and A Place for You.
The formation of ECHO created a website where residents of the 7 county area could gather housing resources like rental listings, housing repair grants/loans, senior housing opportunities and more. Please visit their website for additional housing resources: http://eastcentralhousing.org/
Minnesota Housing Homeownership Programs
Make your dream of homeownership a reality with help from Minnesota Housing and Pine County HRA-EDA! Whether you’re a first-time buyer, repeat buyer, or want to refinance, there’s an affordable Minnesota Housing program that’s right for you.
- Low, fixed interest rates for the life of the loan
- Purchase and refinance options for first-time and repeat homebuyers
- Downpayment and closing cost loans up to $17,000 for qualified borrowers
- Exclusive 3% down conventional products with low-cost or no mortgage insurance
- Works with industry standard products including FHA, VA, Conventional and Rural Development
- Income limits
- Home cost limits
- Homebuyer education requirements
How to Get Started
Contact a participating lender.
Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan Program
Tackle your home improvement to-do list without breaking your budget with a Fix Up Loan.
- Affordable, fixed interest rates, with lower rates for energy conservation and accessibility improvements
- Loan amounts ranging from $2,000-$75,000
- Secured and unsecured loan options
- Higher loan-to-value ratio limits, making it possible to get a secured loan with minimal equity
- Repayment terms up to 20 years, making monthly payment amounts affordable
- Hire a contractor or do the work yourself
What you can do with the loan?
Repair, remodel and make energy saving improvements. Update your bathroom or kitchen. Replace your furnace, A/C, windows, or doors. Get new siding or roofing. Make accessibility improvements. There are so many options available with the Fix Up loan program!
- You must own and occupy the property to be improved.
- Single family homes, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes are eligible.
- Your gross income must be no greater than $139,200. The income limit is waived if the improvement is being made for the accessibility of a family member who is disabled or for specific energy improvements.
How to Get Started
Contact a participating lender.
Pine County has dedicated some of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help alleviate the negative economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on Pine County residents, landlords and businesses. These funds can be used to make repairs to homes, rental units and commercial buildings to make them safe, healthy and less prone to spreading infectious bacteria, viruses, and the diseases they cause.