See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 23, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Bettendorf, IA (2026)
Bettendorf sits on the Mississippi River in Scott County as part of the Iowa side of the Quad Cities metro, with about 40,000 residents and a Zillow-reported median home value near $300,000. The City of Bettendorf does not currently run its own down payment assistance program — Section 8 vouchers are administered through the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority — but buyers here tap into the strongest regional network in the Quad Cities. Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities serves Scott County with a zero-interest mortgage and no down payment on Habitat homes. Mississippi Valley Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) in Davenport is a CDFI, CHDO, and HUD-certified counseling agency that offers homebuyer lending, grants, and counseling to Scott County buyers. Ascentra Credit Union — a CDFI with nine Quad Cities branches including Bettendorf — offers members a $7,500 first-time homebuyer grant. Iowa Finance Authority programs add a $2,500 FirstHome Plus grant, the IFA 2nd Loan Program for up to 5% of purchase price, and the Iowa Mortgage Credit Certificate worth up to $2,000 per year in federal tax savings. Combining CDFI, state, and federal assistance, qualifying Bettendorf buyers can access $10,000 to $20,000+ in stacked help.
State Programs in Iowa
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FirstHome Plus Grant | Grant | $2,500 grant | Yes | View → |
| FirstHome Program (Iowa) | Government-Insured Mortgage | Low-rate 30-year mortgage with 3% down | Yes | View → |
| Homes for Iowans Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | Low-rate 30-year mortgage available to first-time and repeat buyers | No | View → |
| IFA 2nd Loan Program | Deferred Loan | Up to 5% of purchase price or appraised value (whichever is lower), no maximum cap | Yes | View → |
| Iowa Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) | Tax Credit | Up to $2,000 federal tax credit per year (50% of annual mortgage interest paid) | Yes | View → |
| Military Homeownership Assistance Program | Grant | $5,000 grant | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- $2,500 grant
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Low-rate 30-year mortgage with 3% down
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Low-rate 30-year mortgage available to first-time and repeat buyers
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of purchase price or appraised value (whichever is lower), no maximum cap
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- Up to $2,000 federal tax credit per year (50% of annual mortgage interest paid)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- $5,000 grant
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascentra Credit Union First-Time Homebuyer Grant | Grant | Up to $7,500 grant toward down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home with 0% interest mortgage; no down payment required | No | View → |
| Mississippi Valley NHS Homebuyer Lending & Counseling | Repayable Loan | First and second mortgage loans, FACT loans, and grants (amounts vary by product) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500 grant toward down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home with 0% interest mortgage; no down payment required
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- First and second mortgage loans, FACT loans, and grants (amounts vary by product)
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. Most Quad Cities programs and Iowa Finance Authority DPA options cap income around 80% of area median income. State programs like Homes for Iowans allow higher income (up to roughly $139,580), and NHS products are sized to the specific loan.
Complete homebuyer education. Mississippi Valley NHS in Davenport (563-324-1556) is HUD-certified and provides both in-person and online homebuyer education courses — the only HUD-approved counseling agency in the Iowa Quad Cities. Most state and lender grant programs require a completed HUD-approved course before closing.
Choose your local partner. For Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities, visit habitatqc.org and apply when the homeownership window opens. For NHS lending, counseling, or HUD-approved education, contact Mississippi Valley NHS. For the Ascentra grant, become an Ascentra member and contact their mortgage team.
Get pre-approved with an IFA participating lender. Layering the FirstHome Program, IFA 2nd Loan, and FirstHome Plus grant requires all three to be originated through the same IFA-approved lender. Ascentra and other local Quad Cities lenders can also originate loans that pair with their own grants.
Find a home within program limits. Bettendorf's $300,000 median home value should fit comfortably under IFA purchase price caps, but confirm current limits with your lender before making an offer. Habitat purchases follow Habitat's own affordability rules.
Submit your application and close. Plan on 45-60 days from application to closing. Ask about the Iowa Mortgage Credit Certificate at pre-approval — it is claimed on your federal tax return each year you occupy the home and can deliver meaningful ongoing savings.
Keep records of any grants received. Several grant programs, including FHLB Home$tart funds that may back the Ascentra grant, carry five-year owner-occupancy requirements. Selling early can trigger pro-rata repayment.