Not long ago the Sexton, a 123-unit, loft-style condo building in downtown Minneapolis, got caught up in one of the city's most spectacular mortgage fraud cases. Now, with more than 70 of those units in the hands of a new investment group, the building is getting a second chance. Those units hit the market this week in what the investors say is a vote of confidence for the downtown condo market.

"The day has come," said Joe Grunnet, the broker at the Downtown Resource Group, which is marketing the units. The building has a fresh lobby, new landscaping and $250,000 in upgrades to the HVAC system. To help drive sales, and to make it easier to finance the units in a challenging mortgage market, the developers are offering in-house financing with a 5 to 10 percent down payment depending on your credit.

One of building's challenges has been that the units don't have deeded parking (there's contract parking available and an adjacent empty lot that's owned by the Sexton investors is an option for a future parking garage), but Grunnet said that prices reflect the lack of parking. And, he said, the goal was to price them such that the mortgage payment would be the same or less than rent of a unit. Many of the units that had already sold are being rented and the investors are hoping some of those renters will buy their units. Prices start at $119,000 for 760 square foot unit with a balcony, fireplace, maple cabinets and granite counters. Nine penthouse units with 2,500 sq ft and rooftop outdoor space start at $399,000. One- and two-bedroom units with 1,000 to 1,100 square feet will be priced from $170,000 to $180,000.