Estimate your monthly mortgage payment in North Dakota — principal & interest plus North Dakota property tax and homeowner’s insurance.
Buying a home in North Dakota: what to know
North Dakota’s typical home value is about $292,300 as of August 2026 (Zillow ZHVI), though prices swing widely between Fargo/Bismarck and the oil-patch towns of Williston and Watford City. The median effective property tax rate is 0.92% — roughly $2,689 a year on a median-priced home. Homeowner’s insurance averages $1,325 a year (NAIC 2022 via III). The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s FirstHome program offers below-market 30-year fixed rates, and its DCA program adds 3% of the mortgage toward down payment and closing costs as a 0%-interest deferred loan.
North Dakota mortgage facts
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| 2026 conforming loan limit (1-unit) | $832,750 ($832,750 baseline in every county; North Dakota has no high-cost counties in 2026) |
| Median home price | $292,293 |
| Median effective property tax rate | 0.92% |
| Average homeowner’s insurance | $1,325/year |
Data as of October 2026. Sources: FHFA 2026 conforming limits; Zillow ZHVI Aug 2026; Tax Foundation Property Taxes by State and County 2026; NAIC 2022 HO-3 avg premium via III; NDHFA program pages; rate: 7.40% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week ending October 15, 2026)
North Dakota first-time buyer programs
- NDHFA FirstHome — Below-market 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for low- to moderate-income first-time buyers (haven’t owned in 3 years); income limits $105,730–$121,590 and $500,000 single-family acquisition cap under June 2026 limits. Official site
- NDHFA DCA (Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance) — 3% of the first mortgage as a 0%-interest deferred loan toward down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items; for first-time buyers with an NDHFA first mortgage ($500 minimum own funds, homebuyer education required). Official site
How to use this calculator
The calculator comes pre-filled with North Dakota’s $292,293 median home price, the state’s 0.92% effective property tax rate, and the $1,325/year average insurance premium. Twenty percent down is about $58,459 and avoids PMI; below that, the calculator adds it automatically. The 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 statewide — note NDHFA’s own FirstHome program caps eligible purchase prices at $500,000 for single-family homes, well under the conforming ceiling. Adjust the rate to your actual lender quote (2026 rates are running in the mid-6s).
Worked example: a median North Dakota home
Take a median-priced North Dakota home at $292,293. With 20% down ($58,458.60), the loan amount is $233,834.40. At 7.40% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week ending October 15, 2026) on a 30-year fixed term, principal and interest come to $1,619.02/month. Add property tax of about $224.09/month (0.92% of $292,293, divided by 12) and insurance of about $110.42/month ($1,325 a year), for a total estimated payment of $1,953.53/month. Over 30 years, total interest would be about $349,013.57. Your rate, down payment, and county tax bill will move these numbers — use the calculator above with your own figures.
What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in North Dakota?
The 2026 FHFA baseline of $832,750 applies in every North Dakota county — there are no high-cost counties in the state. Loans above $832,750 are jumbo.
What are NDHFA’s income and price limits?
Under the limits updated June 2026, FirstHome income caps run $105,730 to $121,590 depending on family size, and the acquisition cost limit is $500,000 for a single-family home. Buyers above the caps can look at the North Dakota Roots program instead.
How does NDHFA’s DCA assistance work?
The Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance (DCA) program provides 3% of your first mortgage as a credit toward down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items — structured as a 0%-interest deferred loan. It is for first-time buyers using an NDHFA first mortgage, requires at least $500 of your own funds, cannot be combined with other DPA, and the home cannot sit in a 100-year floodplain.
Do oil-boom towns change the math?
In the Bakken region (Williston, Watford City), prices can swing with oil activity and appraisals may lag fast moves — budget a cushion between offer and appraised value. Statewide, the average NDHFA FirstHome loan in 2025 was just under $240,000 with an average borrower household income of about $74,336, showing the programs serve working households, not just minimum-wage buyers.
What is the Start program?
Start is NDHFA’s other down payment/closing cost option, offering up to 3% of the purchase price as a credit that can pair with FirstHome, HomeAccess, North Dakota Roots, or Targeted Area loans. Like DCA it requires homebuyer education and NDHFA program limits.