Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance)

Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Des Moines, Iowa, administered by Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity. Homeownership: Direct lets income-qualified first-time buyers (50-80% AMI) shop on the open market in Polk, Dallas, or Jasper County, then provides up to $15,000 of down payment assistance plus a low-interest mortgage originated by Habitat and homebuyer education. Requires Habitat counseling, education, and 8-16 partnership (volunteer) hours. Up to $15,000 down payment assistance. Low-interest Habitat-originated mortgage. Buyer chooses any qualifying home on the open market. Homebuyer education and counseling included. Funding comes from Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity.

Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) offers up to $15,000 in assistance. The program can be combined with other assistance, subject to the rules of each. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity determines any individual award.

Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time homebuyer" usually means not having owned a home in the last three years, but the program sets its own definition. A homebuyer education course is required, through Habitat pre-purchase counseling plus 4-8 hours of online homebuyer education. Requires 8-16 partnership/volunteer hours on Habitat sites or in ReStores. Buyer must be a first-time homebuyer with household income between 50% and 80% AMI. Home subject to inspection review.

Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income between 50% and 80% of area median income for household size (Polk/Dallas/Jasper AMI). 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.

Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) can be used for Single Family.

Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) serves homebuyers purchasing in Des Moines, Iowa.

Applications for Greater Des Moines Habitat Homeownership: Direct (Down Payment Assistance) go through Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. 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.