Inver Grove Heights · First-Time Buyers
Your First Home in Inver Grove Heights
Learn how buying works before you shop, explained in plain words, so you know what you're signing.
Buying your first home in Inver Grove Heights
Inver Grove Heights has a wide choice of housing, from apartments to large-lot homes, so first-time buyers have more than one way in. I'm Lesley, a REALTOR® with Bridge Realty, and we help you check what fits with real numbers.
Can a first-time buyer afford Inver Grove Heights? It depends on the type of home and its part of the city. The Census survey for 2020 to 2024 put the median owner-occupied home value at $363,400. That is a survey figure, not today's sale prices, so we pull recent sales for the homes you are actually considering.
Ask Us Your First Question
What first-time buyers should check in Inver Grove Heights
- Property taxes. Dakota County keeps the records. Search its free Property Information Search by address to see the tax on any home before you write an offer.
- Utilities. The city provides water and sewer. Electricity is Xcel Energy or Dakota Electric, depending on the location, and natural gas is Xcel Energy.
- Trash. You hire a hauler licensed by the city, so add that bill to your monthly budget.
- Getting around. Highway 52 meets Interstate 494, and Metro Transit Routes 68 and 71 serve Inver Hills Community College.
What it costs, and the help available
Plan for four costs: earnest money with your offer, the inspection, your down payment, and closing costs. Down payments are often far less than 20 percent, and assistance may be available if you qualify. If your credit needs work, a lender can give you a plan. Our first-time buyer page explains each cost, and getting ready covers pre-approval. Comparing with a neighboring city? See St. Paul Park.
Ask us your first question about Inver Grove Heights
You do not have to be ready to buy. Bring your questions, and you will leave with a plan. More on the community is on our Inver Grove Heights page, and the steps are on how we help buyers.
Send us a message or call (651) 661-4770.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need for a down payment in Inver Grove Heights?
Often less than 20 percent, and assistance may be available if you qualify. A lender's Loan Estimate shows your expected cash to close.
How do I look up property taxes on an Inver Grove Heights home?
Use Dakota County's free Property Information Search. You can search by parcel ID, house number, or street address.
Is there public transit in Inver Grove Heights?
Yes. Metro Transit Routes 68 and 71 serve Inver Hills Community College, and MVTA Route 445 connects the college with the Eagan Transit Station.
Get your home plan
Tell Us About The Home You Want
Homes For Sale In Inver Grove Heights
See every home on the market in Inver Grove Heights right now, updated from the MLS.
Inver Grove Heights
What first-time buyers looks like in Inver Grove Heights
Inver Grove Heights is a Dakota County city of about 28 square miles on the west bank of the Mississippi River, with 31 parks and housing from apartments to large-lot homes.
Inver Grove Heights is a short drive from our home base in Cottage Grove, and we help buyers and sellers compare its neighborhoods with facts.
- The homes
- A wide choice of housing, from apartments to large-lot homes, and recent housing developments are adding more.
- Schools people ask about
- Three K-12 districts serve different parts of the city: Inver Grove Heights Schools (ISD 199), Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan (ISD 196), and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan (ISD 197). Confirm the district for any address.
- Getting around
- Highway 52 runs north and south through the city and meets Interstate 494, and the city describes downtown St. Paul as a ten-minute drive.
- Nearby
- 31 city parks, the city-owned Inver Wood Golf Course, and the Mississippi River Greenway trail along the river.
- The trade-off
- The city is large, about 28 square miles, so a home's location makes a real difference in drive times and in which school district serves it.
The method
How we do it in Inver Grove Heights
First-Time Buyers: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Lesley The Realtor?