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Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program

Region XII Council of Governments (on behalf of Council of Governments Housing, Inc.) · Carroll, Iowa

Last verified
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Assistance

$15,000

The maximum the program publishes — not an offer

Repayment

Grant

Not repaid

What is Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program is a grant for homebuyers in Carroll, Iowa, administered by Region XII Council of Governments (on behalf of Council of Governments Housing, Inc.).

  • Region XII Council of Governments administers a homebuyer down payment assistance program through Council of Governments Housing, Inc. (COGH) and its Housing Trust Fund, plus a City-Based Homebuyer Assistance Program. Homebuyer assistance of up to $15,000 (depending on need) is provided as a grant to eligible persons purchasing their first home in the six-county region. Assistance may be paired with rehabilitation of the purchased property, with a maximum combined down payment + rehabilitation assistance of $24,999. Targets first-time homebuyers, veterans, single parents, and displaced homemakers. Funding rounds open annually, typically in December.
  • Down payment assistance grant up to $15,000.
  • May be combined with rehabilitation of the purchased home.
  • Maximum combined DPA + rehab assistance of $24,999.
  • This is a federal program, so it is available beyond a single state or city.
  • Funding comes from Iowa State Housing Trust Fund (Iowa Finance Authority) via Council of Governments Housing, Inc.; federal funds may also be used.

How much assistance does it provide?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $15,000 in assistance.

  • Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Region XII Council of Governments (on behalf of Council of Governments Housing, Inc.) determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program is structured as a grant, so it is not repaid.

  • Repayment is triggered by Provided as a grant; specific recapture/forgiveness terms not published on the official site and not confirmed.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Intended for those purchasing their first home; veterans, single parents, and displaced homemakers are explicitly eligible categories
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • Residency: Property must be located within the six-county Region XII service area (Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, Sac) or within an associate member community (e.g., Dallas Center, De Soto, Perry, Redfield, Woodward)
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-13): staged from primary sources (region12cog.org, iowacog.com); verify before publishing. Income-limit table, credit/DTI, max purchase price, and recapture terms not published on the official site, so left blank rather than guessed.

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program sets its income limit as follows: Subject to income eligibility for low-to-moderate income households (Housing Trust Fund / Iowa Finance Authority limits apply). Specific income table by household size not published on the official site; not confirmed.

  • 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?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program can be used for Single Family.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program names veterans among the groups it serves.

  • Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program is a federal program, so it is not limited to Iowa.

How do you apply?

Applications for Region XII COG Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program go through Region XII Council of Governments (on behalf of Council of Governments Housing, Inc.), which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Contact Region XII Council of Governments (on behalf of Council of Governments Housing, Inc.) to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Waiting List Application for Home Owner-Occupied / Homebuyer Programs; apply through Region XII COG staff. Funding rounds normally open annually in December., and are subject to availability.

  2. 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 buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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