Loan balance over time
| Total of 360 payments | $651,495 |
| Principal | $232,000 |
| Interest | $300,305 |
| Taxes | $88,740 |
| Insurance | $30,450 |
| HOA fees | $0 |
What these numbers come from
- Median home value
- $289,600
- Median tax bill
- $2,940
- Effective tax rate
- 1.02%
- Rank of 51
- 18th highest
South Dakota taxes property at about 1.02% of value against 0.89% nationally. On a $290,000 home that is $31 a month more than the same house would cost in taxes at the national rate. Rates are set by counties, cities and school districts, so your own bill will differ from the state median — put your actual figure in the property tax field and the payment updates.
Tax and home value figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Insurance is estimated at 0.35% of home value per year — there is no comparable public per-state dataset, so treat it as a placeholder and replace it with your own quote. The interest rate is the national Freddie Mac 30-year average of 6.58%; this site does not publish state-level rate quotes.
Monthly cost across South Dakota home prices
20% down, 30-year fixed at 6.58%, with South Dakota property tax of 1.02% and estimated insurance.
| Home price | Loan | P&I | Tax/mo | Full payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $174,000 | $139,200 | $887 | $148 | $1,086 |
| $232,000 | $185,600 | $1,183 | $197 | $1,448 |
| $290,000 median | $232,000 | $1,479 | $247 | $1,810 |
| $362,000 | $289,600 | $1,846 | $308 | $2,259 |
| $434,000 | $347,200 | $2,213 | $369 | $2,708 |
The gap between the P&I column and the last one is what a mortgage quote leaves out. In South Dakota taxes alone add $247 a month on a median-priced home.
Amortization schedule
| Date | Principal | Interest | Tax, Ins. & HOA | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug | $206 | $1,272 | $331 | $231,794 |
| Sep | $208 | $1,271 | $331 | $231,586 |
| Oct | $209 | $1,270 | $331 | $231,377 |
| Nov | $210 | $1,269 | $331 | $231,167 |
| Dec | $211 | $1,268 | $331 | $230,956 |
| 2026 | $1,044 | $6,349 | $1,655 | $230,956 |
| Jan | $212 | $1,266 | $331 | $230,744 |
| Feb | $213 | $1,265 | $331 | $230,531 |
| Mar | $215 | $1,264 | $331 | $230,316 |
| Apr | $216 | $1,263 | $331 | $230,100 |
| May | $217 | $1,262 | $331 | $229,883 |
| Jun | $218 | $1,261 | $331 | $229,665 |
Refinancing in South Dakota
The arithmetic is the same everywhere: refinancing pays off when the monthly saving clears the closing costs before you sell or refinance again. What differs by state is the cost of getting there — recording fees, transfer and mortgage taxes, and whether an existing tax assessment survives the new loan.
Work the break-even with the refinance calculator, or check this week’s national average rates.
South Dakota home loans in detail
South Dakota Mortgage Overview
South Dakota isn't heavily populated, but there are plenty of reasons to live there. First, of course, is Mount Rushmore, but the climate, beautiful areas, and amazing houses are reasons too. The average home price in SD is $320,000 and less than 1 million people are living there.
Here are your top loan options when buying a home in South Dakota.
South Dakota conventional loans
If you have good credit, which is 660 credit or higher you can get a conventional loan. You may need just 3 percent down if you're a first-time homebuyer. If you're a subsequent home buyer you'll need 5 percent down. Eligible borrowers need a debt ratio of around 36 percent, but if you have compensating factors, some lenders may allow higher ratios. You'll pay PMI if you put less than 20 percent down but can cancel it once you owe less than 80 percent of the home's value.
South Dakota FHA loans
If you don't qualify for a conventional loan, FHA loans are a good option. You need a 580 credit score and 3.5 percent down. If you have a 500 - 579 credit score you'll need 10 percent down. Down payment assistance funds and gift funds are allowed and FHA loans have mortgage insurance for the life of the loan.
South Dakota VA loans
If you served in the military you can get a loan with no down payment and a 620 credit score. You must prove you can afford the loan, your current debts, and the cost of living. VA loans don't charge mortgage insurance, but they do have an upfront funding fee.
South Dakota USDA loans
If you make less than 115 percent of the area's median income, you may be eligible for a USDA loan but only if you don't qualify for any other loan. Eligible borrowers need a 640 credit score but don't need a down payment. USDA rates are low as are their mortgage insurance rates.
First-Time Homebuyer
Programs in South Dakota
First-Time Homebuyer
If you buy a home for less than $275,000 and you've never owned a home (or haven't in the last 3 years), you may qualify for a low interest loan. You must be within the SD income guidelines and work with a local lender.
Down payment assistance
The Fixed Rate Plus loan provides up to 3 percent of the loan amount to help with closing costs or the down payment. It's a second mortgage that's deferred until you pay off the home, sell it, or refinance.
South Dakota mortgage FAQ
- How much is property tax on a home in South Dakota?
- South Dakota homeowners pay an effective property tax rate of about 1.02 percent of home value — the 18th highest of the 50 states and DC. On the state's median home value of $289,600 that works out to roughly $2,958 a year, or $247 a month added to the mortgage payment. The figures come from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates; your own bill depends on the county and city rates where the home sits.
- What is the monthly payment on a median-priced South Dakota home?
- At $290,000 with 20 percent down and the current 6.58 percent national 30-year fixed average, principal and interest come to about $1,479 a month. Adding South Dakota property tax of roughly $247 a month and an estimated $85 of homeowner insurance brings the full payment to around $1,810.
- What types of mortgages are available in South Dakota?
- Options include conventional loans with a 660 credit score and 3 percent down for first-time buyers (5 percent for repeat buyers), FHA loans with a 580 score and 3.5 percent down or 500-579 with 10 percent down, VA loans with no down payment for veterans with a 620 score, and USDA loans requiring a 640 score but no down payment for income-eligible buyers.
- What first-time homebuyer programs does South Dakota offer?
- South Dakota's First-Time Homebuyer program offers a low-interest loan to buyers who have never owned a home or have not owned one in the last three years, meet the state income guidelines, and work with a local lender. The Fixed Rate Plus loan adds up to 3 percent of the loan amount for the down payment or closing costs as a deferred second mortgage.
- When can you cancel PMI on a South Dakota conventional loan?
- You pay private mortgage insurance on a conventional loan when you put less than 20 percent down, but you can cancel it once you owe less than 80 percent of the home's value. FHA loans work differently, since their mortgage insurance lasts for the life of the loan, while VA loans charge no mortgage insurance at all, just an upfront funding fee.
Property tax in every state
Effective rate on owner-occupied value, highest bills first in each column.
- Alabama0.38%
- Alaska1.06%
- Arizona0.43%
- Arkansas0.52%
- California0.71%
- Colorado0.49%
- Connecticut1.66%
- Delaware0.47%
- District of Columbia0.63%
- Florida0.75%
- Georgia0.74%
- Hawaii0.27%
- Idaho0.43%
- Illinois1.92%
- Indiana0.74%
- Iowa1.29%
- Kansas1.25%
- Kentucky0.71%
- Louisiana0.53%
- Maine0.91%
- Maryland0.95%
- Massachusetts1.00%
- Michigan1.18%
- Minnesota1.02%
- Mississippi0.65%
- Missouri0.79%
- Montana0.69%
- Nebraska1.42%
- Nevada0.47%
- New Hampshire1.46%
- New Jersey1.89%
- New Mexico0.63%
- New York1.45%
- North Carolina0.61%
- North Dakota0.96%
- Ohio1.22%
- Oklahoma0.75%
- Oregon0.78%
- Pennsylvania1.16%
- Rhode Island1.07%
- South Carolina0.45%
- Tennessee0.45%
- Texas1.31%
- Utah0.49%
- Vermont1.42%
- Virginia0.71%
- Washington0.79%
- West Virginia0.52%
- Wisconsin1.25%
- Wyoming0.57%