Home Improvements / Repairs

The Hutchinson Emergency Home Repair Grant Program is to assists homeowners with a GRANT for eligible emergency home repair costs.

Eligible repairs are for:

• Failure of a heating, electrical, ventilation or plumbing system in a home.
• Other emergency conditions that could cause the home to be or become uninhabitable may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Wanted repairs have to be subject to a building/electrical permit inspection. If the wanted repairs are not subject to a building permit inspection or a State Electrical Inspector inspection then the homeowner is not eligible for the grant program.

Wanted repairs cannot be started before HHRA approval.

• The Grant is for emergency repair costs not to exceed $5,000. Any costs exceeding the maximum will be the responsibility of the Homeowner.
• Two comparable bids from Minnesota licensed contractors need to be submitted with program application.
• HRA/City of Hutchinson will not inspect the house and are not responsible for any present building code issues
• The contractor must obtain applicable City building permit and State Electrical & Plumbing permits, prior to work commencing and follow permit inspection processes.
  • Grant program is only to address requested, eligible work items covered by the permit(s).
  • Grant funds are paid directly to the contractor, on behalf of the homeowner, upon completion of the project.
  • Grant funds may not be used to purchase only equipment or material.

To Qualify:

• You must live in the City of Hutchinson.  Property cannot be located in a flood plain.
• You must have 1/3 fee title interest in the property, through a Mortgage, Contract of Deed or Life Estate that is on record at the McLeod County Recorder’s Office.  No judgements/liens can be recorded against property.
• You must be current on your House Payments and Property Taxes and have home insurance.
• Your Gross Annual Total Household Income for the Grant (to include all residents age 18 or older) and including ALL SOURCES of income, cannot exceed $43,080 (60% AMI), which may be adjusted for family size.
• If you have been notified by the city that you are in violation of the nuisance ordinance, the violations(s) needs to be addressed before applying for the grant funds or addressed with the grand funds if it is an eligible improvement.

Homeowner Paid Administration Fees & Closing Costs:

(these costs may be wrapped into grant, provided they do not exceed the maximum grant)

• $350 – loan application fee, paid to the HRA
• $50 – title search fee paid to the HRA

The Live & Work in Hutchinson, First-time Homebuyer Workforce Initiative, Housing Rehab Program assists homeowners in the form of a grant.

• The purpose of this program is to improve the livability or energy efficiency of a newly purchased home including additions, alterations, renovations, and/or repairs, or to bring a property into compliance with public codes/standards.
• Two comparable bids from Minnesota licensed contractors are required at application.  Payment will be made directly to the selected contractor on behalf of the homeowner after completion of the project.  Improvements cannot be started before HHRA approval.
• No HRA inspections will be required however, the homeowner/contractor will be required to get a Building Permit from the city and follow that process. **
• Maximum grant amount is $5,000.

To Qualify:

• You must live and work (employer located) within the city limits of the City of Hutchinson.
• You must be a first time homebuyer (you may not have had an ownership interest in a Principal Residence at any time during the three year period ending on the date of execution of the mortgage. This requirement applies to any person who will execute the note and will have a present ownership interest in the financed property).
• Property must be owner occupied.
• Property cannot be located in a flood plain.
• Application must be submitted within two years of home purchase.
• You must have 1/3 fee title interest in the property, through a Mortgage, or Contract of Deed with a term longer than City Home Improvement loan/grant term, that is on record at the McLeod County Recorder’s Office.  No judgments/liens can be recorded against property.
• You must be current on your House Payments and Property Taxes and have home insurance
• Your Gross Annual Total Household Income for the Grant (to include all residents age 18 or older) and including ALL SOURCES of income, cannot exceed $111,800 (100% AMI), which may be adjusted for family size.

Homeowner Paid Administration Fees & Closing Costs:

(these costs may be wrapped into grant, provided they do not exceed the maximum grant)

• $350 – loan application fee, paid to the HRA
• $50 – title search paid to the HRA

*This Streamline loan program addresses only limited eligible work items requested by the homeowner that are subject to the City of Hutchinson’s building permit. Only a building permit inspection for the specific work item will be performed.  The HRA and City of Hutchinson will not perform a full house inspection and is not responsible for any other code issues that may be present.

The City Home Improvement Grant Program assists homeowners with a GRANT for 50% of eligible home improvement costs.

Eligible repairs are: permanent, for basic livability or basic energy conservation* of the property; or to bring a property into compliance with state, county, municipal health, housing, building, fire and/or housing maintenance codes or other public standards applicable to housing. Wanted repairs must be subject to a building permit inspection and cannot be started before HHRA approval.

• The Grant is for 50% of the repair costs. Maximum grant not to exceed $10,000. Any costs exceeding the maximum will be the responsibility of the Homeowner. The other 50% of the repair cost is the Owner’s responsibility.
• Submit at least two comparable bids from contractors (licensed by MN) with the grant application.
• HRA/City of Hutchinson will not inspect the house and are not responsible for any present building code issues.
• The contractor must obtain applicable City building permit and State Electrical & Plumbing permits, prior to work commencing and follow permit inspection processes.
• Grant program is only to address requested, eligible work items covered by the permit(s).
• Grant funds are paid directly to the contractor (on behalf of the homeowner) upon completion of the project.
• Grant funds may not be used to purchase only equipment or materials.

To Qualify:

• You must live in the City of Hutchinson. Property cannot be located in a flood plain.
• Your ownership needs to be fee simple absolute. No judgements/liens can be recorded against property.
• You must be current on your House Payments and Property Taxes and have home insurance.
• Your Gross Annual Total Household Income for the Grant (to include all residents age 18 or older) and including ALL SOURCES of income, cannot exceed $65,450 (80% SMI), which may be adjusted for family size.
• If you have been notified by the city that you are in violation of the nuisance ordinance, the violation(s) needs to be addressed before applying for the grant funds or addressed with the grant funds if it is an eligible improvement.

Homeowner Paid Administration Fees & Closing Costs:

(these costs may be wrapped into grant, provided they do not exceed the maximum grant)

• $350 – loan application fee, paid to the HRA
• $50 – title search fee paid to the HRA

City Accessibility Grant Program assists homeowners in the form of a grant. The City Accessibility Grant Program cannot be layered with the other City Home Improvement Loan Programs.

The Accessibility Grant Program will only be for the following improvements: widening interior doors for wheelchairs; retrofitting existing bathrooms with a raised toilet, grab bars, adjustable shower heads and/or a handicapped accessible shower; and exterior ramps and/or railings.*

• The maximum Accessibility Deferred Grant is $5,000, per property. Any costs exceeding this amount will be the responsibility of the Homeowner.
• Two comparable bids from Minnesota licensed contractors need to be submitted with the program application.
• No materials only loans.  Payment made directly to the selected contractor on behalf of the homeowner after the completion of the project.
• No HHRA inspections will be done but the homeowner/contractor will be required to get a Building Permit from the city and follow that process.

To Qualify:

• You must live in the City of Hutchinson. Property cannot be located in a flood plain.
• You must have 1/3 fee title interest in the property, through a Mortgage, Contract of Deed or Life Estate that is on record at the McLeod County Recorder’s Office. No judgments/liens can be recorded against property.
• You must be current on your House Payments and Property Taxes and have home insurance.
• Your Gross Annual Total Household Income for the Deferred Grant Program, of any person age 18 or older, including ALL SOURCES of income, cannot exceed the following limits:

• Applicants must apply for the MHFA Rehab Loan program and/or the Rural Development grant or 1% loan program first.
• Applicants must complete and sign the Authorization to Disclose Health Information form.

Homeowner Paid Administration Fees & Closing Costs:

• $350 – loan application fee, paid to the HRA
• $50 – title search fee paid to the HRA

* This loan program addresses only limited eligible work items requested by the homeowner that are subject to the City of Hutchinson’s building permit. Only a building permit inspection for the specific work item will be performed. The HRA and City of Hutchinson will not perform a full house inspection and is not responsible for any other code issues that may be present.

The Minnesota Housing Fix-Up Fund is available to homeowners for general home improvements at below market interest rates with low closing costs and fees.

Visit MN Housing for program information.

Visit MN Housing for program information.

The Minnesota Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program is available to lower income eligible families. Funds are to be used to address health, safety, accessibility and energy deficiencies.