North Dakota Mortgage Guide 2026
Everything a North Dakota buyer needs in one place: 2026 FHA and conforming loan limits across all 53 counties, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency loans and down payment assistance, how North Dakota property taxes compare, and a closing cost breakdown for a state with no transfer tax.
North Dakota Loan Limits by County (2026)
North Dakota’s loan limits are the same in every county. The 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 in all 53 counties, and the FHA limit sits at the national floor of $541,287 in all 53, including the Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot metro areas.
| Area | Conforming Limit | FHA Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck metro (Burleigh, Morton, Oliver) | $832,750 | $541,287 | National FHA floor |
| Fargo, ND-MN metro (Cass) | $832,750 | $541,287 | National FHA floor |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN metro (Grand Forks) | $832,750 | $541,287 | National FHA floor |
| Minot metro (McHenry, Renville, Ward) | $832,750 | $541,287 | National FHA floor |
| All other 45 counties | $832,750 | $541,287 | National FHA floor |
FHA limits come from HUD and conforming limits come from FHFA — they are set by different agencies and are different numbers. Verify any county at the HUD FHA Mortgage Limits lookup. Figures above are CY2026, retrieved September 2026.
Comparing North Dakota Loan Programs
Most North Dakota buyers choose between five routes. The credit scores below are practical lender thresholds rather than published program minimums — the number you meet in practice is usually an overlay applied by the lender.
| Program | Min Down | Min Credit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | 3.5% | 580 | Buyers with thinner credit or limited savings |
| VA | 0% | 580–620 (lender overlay) | Veterans, active duty, and eligible spouses |
| USDA | 0% | 640 (lender overlay) | Eligible rural North Dakota addresses within income limits |
| Conventional | 3%–20% | 620 | Stronger credit, or avoiding FHA’s upfront and annual premiums |
| NDHFA FirstHome, HomeAccess or Roots | Follows the FHA, VA, USDA or conventional loan used; $500 minimum borrower contribution | No NDHFA minimum; lender and insurer rules apply | First-time buyers, qualifying repeat buyers, and buyers who want 3% assistance |
HUD allows maximum FHA financing at a credit score of 580 or above and limits borrowers between 500 and 579 to 90% loan-to-value (HUD). VA states that it does not require a minimum credit score (VA), and USDA says its guaranteed program has no credit score requirement (USDA Rural Development). Treat every score in this table as a lender overlay, not a rule.
North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA)
The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency is a state agency. Its mortgages are made through participating lenders, which originate and close the loan and then sell it to NDHFA. Every NDHFA loan sits on top of a base conventional or government loan — FHA, VA or USDA Rural Development — and all of its programs require a $500 minimum borrower contribution and a principal residence.
| Program | Who It Is For | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|
| FirstHome | Buyers who have not owned a principal residence in the last 3 years | 30-year term; income and purchase price limits |
| HomeAccess | Single parents, veterans, households with a member 65 or older or permanently disabled | Same rate as FirstHome Standard; income and purchase price limits |
| North Dakota Roots | Buyers who do not qualify for FirstHome or HomeAccess | No income or purchase price limits; slightly higher rate than FirstHome |
| Start and DCA assistance | Buyers using an NDHFA first mortgage | 3% of the first mortgage as a credit toward down payment and closing costs |
Down payment and closing cost assistance
NDHFA’s Start and DCA programs each provide a credit equal to 3% of the first mortgage amount, usable for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid items. Repayment terms may apply if you sell, refinance or transfer the home early; confirm them with NDHFA. DCA carries lower income limits and requires homebuyer education.
FirstHome and HomeAccess income limits are $105,730 for households of fewer than 3 people and $121,590 for 3 or more, with a $500,000 purchase price limit on a single-family home, effective June 15, 2026. Check the NDHFA income and purchase price limits before assuming you qualify.
North Dakota Property Taxes
Dividing the state median annual real estate tax bill of $2,468 by the state median owner-occupied home value of $249,900 gives an estimated effective rate of 0.99%. Sources: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year table B25103 and table B25077.
That 0.99% is an estimated effective rate derived from two separate medians. It is not the median of individual households’ effective rates, and no single North Dakota household necessarily pays it. Your actual bill depends on your property’s assessed value and the local levies where it sits.
| Home Value | Est. Annual Tax | Monthly Escrow |
|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $1,980 (Est.) | $165 |
| $250,000 | $2,475 (Est.) | $206 |
| $300,000 | $2,970 (Est.) | $248 |
| $400,000 | $3,960 (Est.) | $330 |
Treat the table above as a planning estimate built from the statewide 0.99% figure, and ask your lender for the actual parcel figure before you commit.
North Dakota Closing Costs
North Dakota’s constitution bars any real estate transfer tax or mortgage tax, so the charges fixed in state law are the county recorder’s fees. Everything else on the closing statement — lender, appraisal, title and settlement charges — is set by the provider.
| Fee | Amount | Set By |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate transfer tax | None | N.D. Const. art. X, § 27 |
| Mortgage tax | None | N.D. Const. art. X, § 27 |
| Recording a deed or mortgage, 1–6 pages | $20 | NDCC 11-18-05 |
| Recording a deed or mortgage, more than 6 pages | $65, plus $3 per page after the first 25 | NDCC 11-18-05 |
| Lender, appraisal, title and settlement fees | Set by the provider | Compare Loan Estimates |
Article X, section 27 of the North Dakota Constitution provides that the state and its political subdivisions may not impose mortgage taxes or sales or transfer taxes on the mortgage or transfer of real property. Recording fees are set statewide by NDCC 11-18-05.
North Dakota Housing Markets
Loan limits do not change across North Dakota, but USDA income limits and NDHFA’s DCA income limits do. The table below is a qualitative orientation, not a price guide.
| Area | Market Notes |
|---|---|
| Fargo (Cass County) | Part of the Fargo, ND-MN metro area. USDA’s limit here is $132,950 for 1–4 person households, and NDHFA’s Targeted Area Loan covers six Cass County census tracts. |
| Bismarck (Burleigh, Morton, Oliver) | The Bismarck metro area, with USDA’s highest metro-area limit in the state at $136,300 for 1–4 person households. |
| Grand Forks and Minot | The Grand Forks, ND-MN and Minot metro areas. USDA’s limit is $124,500 in Grand Forks, McHenry and Renville Counties and $129,150 in Ward County. |
| Dunn and McKenzie Counties | USDA’s two highest county limits in the state: $153,550 in Dunn and $146,850 in McKenzie for 1–4 person households. The two counties also share NDHFA’s highest DCA income limits. |
| Rural counties | Thirty of North Dakota’s 53 counties share a USDA limit of $124,500 for 1–4 person households. |
