Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Cedar Falls, Iowa, administered by Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) for the Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund.
The program asks for
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- Residency: Home must be located within the City of Cedar Falls limits
- A home inside Cedar Falls city limits
It doesn’t cover
- Households above 80% of area median income
- Homes outside Cedar Falls
These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.
Income limit
80% of Black Hawk County’s area median income
HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.
Where it applies
Cedar Falls’s homesCedar Falls’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 59.4% single-familysingle-family
- 6.8% townhousetownhouse
- 7.5% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 22.9% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 3.5% mobile & othermobile home & other
A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
$263,600
Cedar Falls median home value
58.2%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Cedar Falls
How to apply
How to applyTwo steps, in this order
Contact Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) for the Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund to reserve funds
Funds are reserved through First-come, first-served until funds exhausted, and are subject to availability.
Work with a lender who handles the program
Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Questions about this program
What is Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance?
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Cedar Falls, Iowa, administered by Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) for the Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund. The Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund (CFHTF) provides down payment assistance to income-eligible households purchasing a home within the City of Cedar Falls, available to first-time and subsequent buyers. Assistance is up to $10,000 per household, structured as a forgivable loan over a 5-year period, usable only for principal or closing costs. INRCOG reviews applications, verifies income, and coordinates closing/security documents. Funds are awarded first-come, first-served until exhausted; the 2025-2026 funding round had $80,000 available for this activity. Up to $10,000 down payment assistance. Forgivable over 5 years. Usable for principal or closing costs. First-time or subsequent buyers eligible. Funding comes from Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) grant via the Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund.
How much assistance does it provide?
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance offers up to $10,000 in assistance. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) for the Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund determines any individual award.
Do you have to pay it back?
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance is forgiven after 5 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Forgiven over a 5-year period (prorated repayment if owner-occupancy not maintained). Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.
Who qualifies?
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance is open to homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. Residency requirement: Home must be located within the City of Cedar Falls limits.
What are the income limits?
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Households must be at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), based on household size, for Cedar Falls/Black Hawk County. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.
What kind of home can it be used for?
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance can be used for Single Family.
Where does it apply?
Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Targeted neighborhoods: City of Cedar Falls.
How do you apply?
Applications for Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund Homebuyer Assistance go through Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) for the Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through First-come, first-served until funds exhausted. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Also for Cedar Falls homebuyersOther programs open to Cedar Falls homebuyers
- FHLB Des Moines Native American Homeownership Initiative (NAHI) GrantUp to $25,000
- Upper Explorerland RPC First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment AssistanceUp to $24,999
- FHLB Des Moines Home$tart Down Payment GrantUp to $15,000
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 72 programs for Cedar FallsProgram terms are set by Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) for the Cedar Falls Housing Trust Fund and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.