Deferred second loan
Historic West Des Moines Housing Fund - Down Payment Program
Income limits · Single-family residence within Historic West Des Moines neighborhood
Down payment assistance · Polk County
Buying a home in West Des Moines, IA
1 West Des Moines program, 3 county programs and 9 statewide.West Des Moines has 1 program of its own, 3 more across Polk County, and 9 statewide. Here is what each one offers, what the local market looks like, and who near you can walk you through it.
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Only for West Des Moines addresses
West Des Moines’s own program
Anywhere in PolkAnywhere in Polk County
3 county programs3 county programs a West Des Moines homebuyer can also use
The West Des Moines marketThe West Des Moines housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat’s for sale here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in West Des Moines
- 45.6% single-familysingle-family
- 12% townhousetownhouse
- 2.4% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 39.2% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 0.7% mobile & othermobile home & other
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When West Des Moines’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
27.7%
of West Des Moines homes were built before 1980. Pre-1978 homes come with a federal lead-paint disclosure.of homes were built before 1980. A home built before 1978 comes with a federal lead-paint disclosure, and some programs require an inspection.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25034.
$116,400
County area median income, 4 people (HUD)HUD area median income, Polk County, 4-person household (2026)
$86,594
West Des Moines median household incomeMedian household income in West Des Moines (Census, 2024)
13 of the 75 programs here set their income limit as a share of Polk County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Polk County
Free help nearbyFree help near West Des Moines
3 HUD-approved counseling agencies within 15 miles3 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies within 15 miles
3 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.3 of the 4 local programs here ask for a homebuyer class. A HUD-approved counselor teaches it and can walk you through your options. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.
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Across Iowa and nationwide
71 statewide & federal programs9 statewide programs, plus federal options
West Des Moines questions
Does West Des Moines have its own down payment program?
Yes, one: Historic West Des Moines Housing Fund - Down Payment Program, a deferred second loan (income limits). It is for homes inside West Des Moines.
Can I use assistance on a condo in West Des Moines?
Each program sets which kinds of homes it accepts. Where the agency publishes them, the program’s page lists them; the agency confirms it for the home you choose.
What is the income limit in Polk County?
Each program sets its own. 13 of the programs here set theirs as a share of HUD’s area median income for Polk County, adjusted for household size. HUD publishes the median each year; the 2026 figure is shown above and on the published limits page.
Where can I take a homebuyer class near West Des Moines?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 3 agencies are within 15 miles of West Des Moines. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
ZIP codes
50265 · 50266 · 50398
Nearby in Polk
Sources
Sources: agency sites (June–September 2026), Census ACS 2024 5-year, HUD FY2026, HUD counseling list. Hey Prescott is not a lender.Programs: Hey Prescott catalog of 2,000+ programs, each verified with its agency (June–September 2026). Market: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.