See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 23, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Johnston, IA (2026)
Johnston is a fast-growing northwestern suburb of Des Moines in Polk County, with a population of roughly 24,400 and a median home price in the mid-$300,000s — well above the Iowa statewide median. Despite higher prices, buyers here have access to one of the strongest county-level down payment programs in the state: the Polk County Down Payment Assistance Program, which offers a $30,000 deferred 0% interest loan to buyers at or below 80% of area median income. Layer that with Iowa Finance Authority programs (the $2,500 FirstHome Plus Grant, the IFA 2nd Loan Program up to 5% of purchase price, and the Iowa Mortgage Credit Certificate worth up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits), plus Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity's homeownership program and the Financial Plus Credit Union $5,000 first-time buyer grant, and Johnston buyers can stack tens of thousands of dollars in assistance. With closing costs typically $7,000–$10,000 on a median-priced home, combining county, state, and credit union assistance with federal FHA, VA, or USDA financing can substantially reduce your cash to close.
County Programs in Polk County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | $30,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- $30,000
- First-time only:
- No
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 → |
| 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:
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Plus Credit Union First-Time Homebuyer Grant | Grant | $5,000 grant | Yes | View → |
| Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with below-market interest rate | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- $5,000 grant
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with below-market interest rate
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Polk County DPA requires household income at or below 80% AMI; Iowa Finance Authority programs have their own county-specific income limits (FirstHome at 80% AMI; Homes for Iowans allows higher). Minimum credit score for IFA programs is 640.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Iowa Finance Authority programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. The Polk County DPA specifically requires 8 hours of homebuyer education completed prior to closing. Your IFA-participating lender can point you to an approved online course.
Step 3: Contact a local housing partner. For Polk County DPA questions, apply through a participating first-mortgage lender (the fund is administered by Neighborhood Finance Corporation). For Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, call 515-471-8686. For Financial Plus Credit Union, call the loan hotline at 515-669-3380.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a Polk County DPA participating lender who can package the $30,000 county deferred loan alongside your IFA first mortgage. Ask the lender to confirm how all assistance layers stack at closing.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. The 2026 IFA purchase price cap is $544,000 (up to $665,000 in targeted areas), which is above Johnston's median of roughly $340,000. The Polk County DPA requires the home be owner-occupied as a principal residence.
Step 6: Submit your applications. Your lender submits Polk County DPA and IFA paperwork; Habitat applicants work through a separate partner-family selection process with Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity.
Step 7: Close on your home. All grants and deferred loans are applied at closing. The Polk County DPA loan is deferred until sale, refinance, or the home ceases to be your primary residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Johnston, IA?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price allowed?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
How do I apply for the Polk County Down Payment Assistance Program?+−
Free eligibility check
Buying a home in Johnston? 16 programs could help.
How soon are you looking to buy?