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Buying a home in Mountain Lake, Minnesota

The typical owner-occupied home in Mountain Lake is worth about $143,100, 57% below the Minnesota median of $329,300 and 57% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,832 a year in property taxes, about 1.28% of their home's value, higher than the Minnesota rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $66,490 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (3.7 times for Minnesota). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Mountain Lake at a glance

Mountain Lake Minnesota U.S.
Median home value $143,100 $329,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,832 $3,357 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.28% 1.02% 0.94%
Median household income $66,490 $89,062 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 72% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 59% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,342 $1,947 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.6% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $929 $1,280 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 22.0% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1964 1979 1980
Vacant homes 2.6% 9.3% 10.1%
Population 2,070 5,739,445 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Mountain Lake

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Mountain Lake home of $143,100 with 20% down costs about $982 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,221, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $42,102 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Mountain Lake household income of $66,490; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $226,000.

The median rent here is $929 a month, so owning the median home costs about $53 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$28,620
Loan amount$114,480
Principal and interest$770
Property taxes (1.28% a year)$153
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
PMI$0
Total per month$982

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,008
Loan amount$140,508
Principal and interest$945
Property taxes (1.28% a year)$153
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
FHA mortgage insurance$63
Total per month$1,221

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Questions about home buying in Mountain Lake

What is the median home value in Mountain Lake?

About $143,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Mountain Lake?

Homeowners pay a median $1,832 a year, which is about 1.28% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Mountain Lake?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $982 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,102 a year.

More about Mountain Lake

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data