Section 8 housing lists in Minnesota provide opportunities for low-income families to find affordable housing. By browsing Section 8 house listings near them, families can see the types of affordable home options which are available. However, prior to jumping into the search for a Section 8 rental housing list, it is important to understand more regarding the Section 8 program.

Learn How to Find Section 8 Housing Lists in Minnesota

Finding Section 8 housing lists in Minnesota is much easier than you think. Most Section 8 house listings can be found in the same location as other apartment listings: in the newspaper, grocery store, apartment guide or flyers. However, the easiest way to search Section 8 apartment listings near you is through online resources. An online list of Section 8 houses will allow to narrow down your search by filtering to your needs such as bedroom size, price range or even desired neighborhood. To find out more about applying for Section 8 benefits, download our guide.

What Qualifies as a Section 8 Home in Minnesota?

Section 8 housing lists in Minnesota must pass certain requirements in order to be listed within the Section 8 program. A list of Section 8 rentals must meet criteria set forth in 13 housing quality standards from the Public Housing Authority. Within these 13 categories, there are subcategories that must also be inspected and approved. Some of the requirements outline that qualified apartments and houses must:

• Have handrails for a staircase when four or more steps are present.
• Be free of any air pollutants which may compromise the inhabitants’ health
• Not have any water contaminants within the unit’s supply.
• Have a smoke detector on every level of the unit.
• Have at least one fully operational electric outlet in the kitchen area.

How Big of a House Can You be Approved for in Minnesota?

Section 8 housing lists in Minnesota feature a wide variety of options. Depending on your family size and eligibility requirements, you will receive a voucher detailing the house size your family can rent. Before searching Section 8 housing lists, visit your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) and see how big of a house you can search for. The PHA may provide you with a list of Section 8 rentals with three bedrooms if that is the maximum number of bedrooms allotted to your family. You can choose a smaller unit as long as the utility allowances are the same and the housing quality standards are met.

Learn About Checking Your Credit Score Before Viewing Section 8 Apartment Listings in Minnesota

Every landlord on an MN list of section 8 rentals will require a credit check during the application process. Before you begin your hunt for Section 8 housing lists near you, order a free copy of your credit report. Ordering your credit report before searching a Section 8 rental housing list will not only give you peace of mind during the application process, but it will also allow you the chance to make any necessary changes prior to applying for benefits. Compare your credit score to the following categories to see how you can improve:

• 750-850 (Excellent): Applicants in this range will receive credit and terms will be very favorable.
• 700-749 (Good): Applicants in this range usually receive credit and terms will be favorable.
• 650-699 (Fair): Applicants in this range normally receive credit with terms that are modest.
• 550-649 (Poor): Applicants in this range may receive credit, but terms will be subpar.
• 300-549 (Very Poor): Applicants in this range do not receive credit, so terms will not apply.

Tips for Reading Minnesota Section 8 House Listings

Reading Minnesota Section 8 house listings may seem much more difficult than it really is. Section 8 housing lists use abbreviations in place of long-worded amenities in order to streamline the listing process. For example, a “3br/2ba/apt with cac and fncd yd” represents a three-bedroom, two bathroom apartment with central air conditioning and a fenced yard. Other common abbreviations to learn on a list of Section 8 rentals include:

• ” d/w” for dishwasher.
• “dsp” for garbage disposal.
• “ffbr” for first floor bedroom.
• “f-bmt” for finished basement.
• “foyr” for foyer.
• “nbd” for neighborhood.

Understanding the common abbreviations in Section 8 housing lists will simplify the search process. Website: Local Offices. State: Minnesota