Assistance program · Iowa
FirstHome Down Payment and Closing Costs (2nd Loan)
With the Iowa state authority's FirstHome mortgage, a first-time buyer can get a second loan of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or up to 5% (maximum $15,000), with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to 5% of the price, capped at $15,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Deferred
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- First-time buyers only
- Minimum credit score
- 640
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
What it gives
Up to 5% of the price, capped at $15,000
Source text
3% Second Mortgage Homebuyers may receive assistance up to 3% of the purchase price, up to $10,000. … 5% Second Mortgage Homebuyers may receive assistance up to 5% of the purchase price, up to $15,000. … No monthly payments are required. … Repayment is due when the home is sold, refinanced or the first mortgage is paid in full. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
A first-time homebuyer is defined as not owning your primary residence in the last three years. … ranges from $102,100 to $171,360. … $566,000—may be up to $692,000 in targeted areas. … All loans subject to a minimum 640 credit score. … Changes to IFA down payment assistance programs take effect Nov. 2, 2026. - First-time buyers only Yes
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score 640
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit $566,000
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement The source does not mention one — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of Iowa
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Iowa
The program covers all of Iowa. The first column is Iowa's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The program's maximum price, $566,000, is 172% above the typical home value in Iowa ($208,000).
The typical home value ($208,000) fits within Iowa's FHA limit ($541,287).
The program sets its income limit in its own table. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in Iowa is $76,900.
| Figure | Iowa | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $208,000 | $98,100 (Pocahontas County) to $355,600 (Dallas County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 in all 99 counties | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 in all 99 counties | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $76,900 | $75,300 (Allamakee County) to $97,900 (Story County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
-
Confirm you count as a first-time buyer
The program requires it. Read on its page how it defines "first-time buyer" and whether there are exceptions.
-
Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
-
The home cannot cost more than $566,000
That is the maximum price the program publishes. Compare it with your area's typical home value in the table above.
-
Check your score: the published minimum is 640
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
-
Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
-
Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 6 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Iowa Finance Authority.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- Do you require a homebuyer course? Which ones do you accept, and what do they cost?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- When is the second loan repaid: when I sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage?
Against the others
How it compares with Iowa's other programs
The 2 programs we checked in Iowa, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is the only one of Iowa's 2 programs that requires being a first-time buyer. It is one of 2 out of 2 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. One other program in the state also gives "deferred" help: Homes for Iowans Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FirstHome Down Payment and Closing Costs (2nd Loan)this program | Deferred | Up to 5% of the price, capped at $15,000 | Yes | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Homes for Iowans Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance | Deferred | Up to 5% of the price, capped at $15,000 | No | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
-
Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
-
Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
-
Help and programs
Public charge and housing: what the rules say
Public charge: which housing help DHS may consider, who is exempt, how HUD prorates assistance for mixed-status families and where to get free advice.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.