Down payment assistance · Iowa

Buying a home in Iowa

46 programs: 9 statewide, the rest run by counties and 12 cities. What you can use depends on where the home is.46 programs across Iowa: 9 statewide, the rest run by counties and 12 cities. What you can use depends on where the home is.

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Start with your county

Local help, prices and income limits differ county to county

County	Local programs	Median home value	Area median income (4 people)	Link
Dubuque	5	$237,300	$106,300	See Dubuque
Polk	4	$262,100	$116,400	See Polk
Black Hawk	3	$188,900	$91,000	See Black Hawk
Scott	3	$222,000	$97,500	See Scott
All 99 counties

Home values: Census ACS 2024 5-year. Income: HUD FY2026. Programs: Hey Prescott, verified June–September 2026.

Anywhere in Iowa

9 statewide programs

Up to $25,000

FHLB Des Moines Native American Homeownership Initiative (NAHI) Grant

Assistance grant · Forgiven over 5 yrs · Income limits · First-time

See details

Up to $24,999

Upper Explorerland RPC First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance

Forgivable loan · Income limits · First-time · Veterans

See details

Up to $15,000

FHLB Des Moines Home$tart Down Payment Grant

Assistance grant · Forgiven over 5 yrs · Income limits · First-time

See details

Plus 62 nationwide programs. See them See nationwide programs

Free help from a person

12 HUD-approved counseling agencies in Iowa12 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Iowa

6 of the 9 statewide programs ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you.6 of the 9 statewide programs ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account, take the 90-second match, and we’ll show the counselors near you.

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Free account → 90-second match → your counselors

Income limitsIncome limits and price caps in IowaArea median income for all 99 counties, and the limit each program sets.See the limits

Iowa questions

What is FHLB Des Moines Native American Homeownership Initiative (NAHI) Grant?

FHLB Des Moines Native American Homeownership Initiative (NAHI) Grant, a assistance grant for first-time homebuyers (forgiven over 5 yrs, income limits), open anywhere in Iowa and run by Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (delivered via member financial institutions). Its page has the details and a link to the official site.

Which Iowa counties run their own programs?

13 counties of 99 have a county or city program listed, among them Dubuque, Polk, Black Hawk and Scott. The table above lists them, and each county page has its own programs.

Do I need a homebuyer class in Iowa?

Many programs ask for one. 6 of the 9 statewide programs list a homebuyer education requirement. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach them, often for free.

Can I use assistance on a Iowa condo?

4 of the 9 statewide programs list condos as eligible. Each program’s page lists the kinds of homes it accepts.

12 Iowa cities with their own program