Model Cities of St. Paul

Model Cities of St. Paul Model Cities is a non-profit agency that provides supportive housing and family support services.

Upcoming events!Unlocking Homeownership: Your Guide to Down Payment Assistance.Thursday, June 25, 20276, 5:30-8:00pmSaba...
06/19/2026

Upcoming events!

Unlocking Homeownership: Your Guide to Down Payment Assistance.
Thursday, June 25, 20276, 5:30-8:00pm
Sabathani Community Center
310 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55409

Model Cities HomeStretch Workshop
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 9:00am-5:00pm
BROWNstone Building
839 University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104

Model Cities offices are closed today in honor of Juneteenth. Be sure to check out the celebration at Rondo Commemorativ...
06/19/2026

Model Cities offices are closed today in honor of Juneteenth. Be sure to check out the celebration at Rondo Commemorative Plaza today!

It is common to think homeownership isn’t possible because of low credit. While some lenders accept lower credit scores,...
06/17/2026

It is common to think homeownership isn’t possible because of low credit. While some lenders accept lower credit scores, the interest rates and fees may be significantly more expensive. The higher your credit score, the more favorable terms you’ll be able to get on your home loan.

According to Experian, anything less than a 670 FICO Score is considered “subprime” and anything below 579 is a “poor” score. But, there are still loan options for homebuyers with low credit scores.

Conventional Loans from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require a minimum credit score of at least 620.

FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans have lower qualifying requirements for first-time homebuyers, including a minimum credit score of 580. Some even have a minimum score of 500, but require a 10% down payment.

VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) loans have no specific credit score minimums, but lenders do, sometimes at a minimum of 580 score. VA loans also do not require a downpayment, which is an added benefit.

The best option always is to try to improve your credit score before purchasing a home. Here are 6 tips for improving your credit score: https://www.usbank.com/financialiq/manage-your-household/establish-credit/6-tips-on-how-to-improve-your-credit.html

Celebrate Juneteenth this Friday in Rondo!Juneteenth celebrates the same day in 1865 when a group of enslaved African Am...
06/16/2026

Celebrate Juneteenth this Friday in Rondo!

Juneteenth celebrates the same day in 1865 when a group of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom, almost two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Each year, Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions/RCODE remembers June 19, 1865 with speakers, music, food, exhibitors, and the announcement of the Rondo Achievement Awards. Join us to celebrate African American heritage and culture.

Juneteenth Celebration
Friday, June 19, 2026
12:00-5:00 pm
Rondo Center of Diverse Expression / Rondo Commemorative Plaza
315 North Fisk St, St. Paul, MN

Continuing in our Economic Services team introductions, we’d like to introduce Alex Westberg!Alex is a Financial Wellnes...
06/15/2026

Continuing in our Economic Services team introductions, we’d like to introduce Alex Westberg!

Alex is a Financial Wellness Specialist at Model Cities. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is driven by a passion for social justice. With a strong commitment to empowering his clients, Alex provides them with the skills and resources needed to achieve financial stability. He brings over 20 years of experience in banking, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and enjoys volunteering for community and environmental causes.

What is a down payment?A down payment is the money a homebuyer pays upfront when purchasing their home.Down payment assi...
06/12/2026

What is a down payment?

A down payment is the money a homebuyer pays upfront when purchasing their home.

Down payment assistance (DPA) helps you cover your down payment as a first-time home buyer. There are different types of down payment assistance you can combine to purchase your home. These include grants, forgivable loans, deferred-payment loans, low-interest loans, and matched savings programs.

There are down payment assistance programs that exist on the federal, state, county, and city level, as well as from private sources, and they can be layered and used together, as long as they are not from the same source.

Check out this down payment assistance resource from the Minnesota Homeownership Center: https://www.hocmn.org/partner-resources/guides-tools/down-payment-resource-tool/

Backyard Boogie with Rondo Community Land Trust for Homeownership Month!Join us to learn about pathways towards homeowne...
06/11/2026

Backyard Boogie with Rondo Community Land Trust for Homeownership Month!

Join us to learn about pathways towards homeownership, and understand which one is right for you.

Thursday, June 18, 2026
6:00-8:00pm
Corner of Selby Ave and Grotto St in St. Paul

Our Homeownership Month HomeStretch workshop is June 27!Join us to learn more about the homebuying process and get yours...
06/10/2026

Our Homeownership Month HomeStretch workshop is June 27!

Join us to learn more about the homebuying process and get yourself in a better position to receive first time homebuyer loans and down payment assistance.

This workshop is in-person at the BROWNstone Building on Saturday, June 27, 9am-5pm. Spots are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. This workshop is sponsored by NAREB, Associated Bank, and Bell Bank, so participants can register at no cost.

To register, call Model Cities at 651-632-8350 or register online at http://bit.ly/homestretch-mc.

Meet Jeff Wills!Jeff is the Economic Services Manager at Model Cities, helping to make your home buying dreams a reality...
06/08/2026

Meet Jeff Wills!

Jeff is the Economic Services Manager at Model Cities, helping to make your home buying dreams a reality.

A native of Queens, NY, Jeff came to Model Cities with over a decade of cumulative experience as a Homeownership Advisor, banking manager, and consumer lender. A constant in Jeff’s career is that he’s been a relentless advocate for economic equity with a particular focus on financial empowerment for disenfranchised and disadvantaged communities of color. Jeff graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as a student-athlete and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing Education.

Did you know Model Cities has pre-purchase counseling sessions for prospective homebuyers?Our pre-purchase counseling se...
06/05/2026

Did you know Model Cities has pre-purchase counseling sessions for prospective homebuyers?

Our pre-purchase counseling services provide FREE, one-on-one assistance to help potential homebuyers understand and address barriers to homeownership. Working with a HUD-certified counselor, you’ll be able to analyze your household income, credit, debt, and work history. Empowered with this information, we’ll work together to create a strategy to overcome any obstacles and a plan of action that prepares you for the purchasing process.

Schedule a one-on-one counseling session today at https://www.modelcities.org/financial-education/pre-purchase-counseling.

Address

839 University Avenue W
Saint Paul, MN
55104

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16516328350

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Model Cities of St. Paul posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Model Cities of St. Paul:

Shortcuts

Share