Buy a Home in Rochester MN

How it works

The buying process.

Talk first
Text me the towns, the monthly payment you're comfortable with, and your must-haves.
Get pre-approved
Talk to a lender before we tour. A pre-approval letter tells you your real budget, and sellers will want it with your offer.
Search and save
Use my FlexMLS search below. Save the homes you like and text me which ones you want to see. I set up the showings.
Check the condition
Furnace and water heater age, the roof, the windows, and how the yard drains after a thaw.
Price the fix before you offer
Get a written repair or remodel estimate before deciding what to offer.
Write the offer
We look at recent sales nearby, the condition, and how long it's been listed. Then we set the price, earnest money, contingencies, and closing date.
Inspection to closing
Inspection, appraisal if you're financing, final walk-through, then keys. I track every date in the purchase agreement and tell you what's next.

Plan your budget

Monthly payment estimator.

Try a home price and down payment to see how the monthly costs add up.

Mortgage estimator disclaimer

This calculator is provided for general informational purposes only. Results are illustrative estimates based on a fixed-rate loan and the information entered; accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. Nothing displayed constitutes financial, tax, or legal advice, a loan offer, a rate quote, pre-qualification, pre-approval, or a commitment to lend. Default rates and amounts are hypothetical and do not represent available financing terms.

Actual payments, eligibility, and loan terms are determined by your lender. Mortgage insurance is included only at the amount entered and is not calculated automatically. Taxes, insurance, and association dues may change or be billed separately. Closing costs, financed fees, utilities, repairs, and maintenance are excluded. Independently verify all amounts with your lender and applicable providers before making a financial decision. About monthly mortgage costs ↗

Where I show homes.

RochesterOlmsted CountyHome base. Mayo Clinic, downtown, and everything from older houses near the center to newer subdivisions on the edges.
ByronOlmsted CountyWest of Rochester on Highway 14, between the city and Kasson.
KassonDodge CountyFarther west on Highway 14. Buyers usually look here for more yard. Kasson vs Rochester.
MantorvilleDodge CountyThe county seat, just north of Kasson.
Dodge CenterDodge CountyWest on Highway 14, past Kasson.
StewartvilleOlmsted CountySouth of Rochester on Highway 63.
OronocoOlmsted CountyNorth of Rochester on Highway 52.
Pine IslandGoodhue and Olmsted countiesFarther north on Highway 52.
ChatfieldFillmore and Olmsted countiesSoutheast of Rochester on Highway 52.
Saint CharlesWinona CountyEast of Rochester along I-90.
PlainviewWabasha CountyNortheast of Rochester.
Lake CityWabasha and Goodhue countiesOn Lake Pepin, northeast of Rochester.

Also Elgin, Winona, Austin, Preston, Spring Valley, Lanesboro, and other towns nearby. Text me where you work and how you feel about a drive, and I'll tell you which towns fit.

Relocating

Moving here for ?

Out of town? I offer video walk-throughs on request. Before you fly in, send me your start date, where you'll report to work, and how you plan to get there. I'll line up showings in a tight window so you see the right houses in a day or two instead of a week.

If you don't know the area yet, renting for a year is a fair call, and I'll tell you if I think it fits you better. When you're ready to buy, the same rules apply: pre-approval, a short list, and a real number on any fixes.

I also post videos on my YouTube channel.

Buying your first house.

Start with the payment

Price is one number. Your monthly payment is principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and HOA dues if there are any. Ask your lender to show you all of it.

Look at Minnesota Housing

Minnesota Housing's Start Up program is for first-time buyers, meaning no ownership in a home in the last three years. It can pair with down payment and closing cost loans of up to $18,000 (2026 figure). You apply through a participating lender. Minnesota Housing lenders.⁷

Keep a repair cushion

Set money aside for the first year in the house.

File for homestead

After you move in, file a homestead application with the county. In Olmsted County the deadline is December 31 for the next year's taxes. It affects your property tax and your eligibility for the state property tax refund.⁸

More in First-time buyer questions I get in Olmsted and Dodge County.

Financing your home.

Pre-approval, not pre-qualification

A pre-approval means a lender has looked at your income, assets, and credit. That's the letter sellers want to see with an offer.

Compare lenders

I'm not a lender. Talk to two or three and compare their Loan Estimates line by line: rate, points, lender fees, and cash to close.

Earnest money

When your offer is accepted, you put down earnest money. It's held in trust and applied to your purchase at closing. The amount is part of the offer, so we decide it together.

Contingencies

Common ones are inspection, financing, and appraisal. If you need to sell your current house first, that's a sale contingency, and it changes how a seller reads your offer.

Radon

Minnesota sellers have to give you a radon disclosure and the Health Department's "Radon in Real Estate Transactions" pamphlet. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends every buyer test before buying.⁹

FAQ

Buyer questions.

What does it cost to work with you?

My fee is negotiable. We’ll agree on it in writing before touring homes. The seller may cover some or all of it, but we’ll go over what you would owe before you commit.

Do you show homes outside Rochester?

Yes. I work in Byron, Kasson, Stewartville, Pine Island, and the surrounding towns. Send me where you’re looking and your budget.

Can you show me a home listed by another agent?

Yes. Send me the listing and I’ll arrange a showing.

What if the house needs work?

We can arrange a repair or remodel estimate before you make an offer. That gives you a cost to work with when deciding what you’re willing to pay.

Do I still need an inspection if I have a repair estimate?

I recommend one. An estimate covers specific work; an inspection looks more broadly at the home’s condition. Neither will catch everything, but they answer different questions.

Can we tour homes while I’m out of town?

Yes. I offer video walk-throughs on request. If you’re coming to Rochester for a visit, send me your dates and I’ll group showings around your trip.

How quickly do I need to make an offer?

That depends on the listing and whether other offers are coming in. I’ll check with the listing agent about timing so you know what you’re working with. You decide whether to make an offer.

Morning Thoughts

Buying a home in Rochester.