Minnesota home affordability rises 2.1% in 2026, first gain since 2020

Minnesota home affordability increased by 2.1% in 2026, marking the first improvement since 2020. The average age of first-time homebuyers rose to 40, up from 30-32 in the 1980s through 2019, according to Twin Cities realtor Amanda Cox Zuppan. Minnesota's Housing Affordability Index reached 90 in 2026, below the 100 baseline, indicating typical families still cannot qualify for mortgages on typical homes.