What is Small NOAH?
Small NOAH is a Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF) program which promotes and finances the acquisition and rehab of existing properties to preserve them as affordable housing options for residents. Small NOAH property acquisition is more cost effective than new building development and is more accessible for new emerging developers.
Preserving Naturally Affordable 4-40 unit multifamily housing in Minnesota
- GMHF’s Small NOAH program provides low-cost capital in the form of first mortgage, mezzanine and gap funding to small landlords and Emerging Developers of Color to preserve NOAH housing stock in communities throughout Minnesota.
- GMHF’s Small NOAH financing is available both in the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area and in urban and rural communities in Greater Minnesota.
- GMHF’s goal in providing funding resources is to preserve the affordability of NOAH housing stock and improve the quality of the housing for tenants.
Financing Terms
Permanent First Mortgages
- Term: 10-25 years
- Amortization: Up to 30 years
- Interest Rate: Fixed rate for term of loan starting at 30-year Treasury + 2%
- Loan to Value: up to 80%
- Debt Coverage Ratio: 1.2 in Year 1
Second Mortgages – Mezzanine
- Term: 10-15 years
- Amortization: Up to 35 years or interest only
- Interest Rate: Fixed rate for term of loan, starting at 1% over First Mortgage
- Loan to Value: Up to 95%
- Debt Coverage Ratio: 1.05
Predevelopment Loans
- Term: Short-term loan to pay for due diligence costs
- Amortization: Interest only
- Interest Rate: 5%
Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance (TA) support is available for new and less experienced owners and developers
- TA during predevelopment & underwriting
- GMHF TA available for all stages of project: from feasibility through due diligence to closing
- Additional third-party, project management available if necessary
**Small NOAH funding requires that at least 75% of rental units be income-and rent-restricted at 80% AMI, and 40% of units at 60% AMI or 20% of units at 50% AMI. Up to 25% of units may be unrestricted at market rates.
Who can I Contact for More Information?
For More Information Contact:

John Rocker
Director of Lending
[email protected]
651-350-7233