See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 23, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Urbandale, IA (2026)
Urbandale is a growing northwest suburb of Des Moines in Polk County with about 46,700 residents and a Zillow-reported median home value near $356,000 — well above the Iowa state average. Urbandale does not operate its own city-funded down payment assistance program, but buyers here have access to some of the most generous regional programs in the state. The Polk County Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $30,000 as a 0% deferred loan for households at or below 80% AMI, and Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC) adds a $15,000 Neighborhood Reinvest deferred loan for qualifying Urbandale properties. Buyers can also stack the Financial Plus Credit Union $5,000 first-time homebuyer grant, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity's Homeownership: Direct program (which combines DPA with a low-interest mortgage anywhere in Polk, Dallas, or Jasper County), and state programs from the Iowa Finance Authority — including the $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. Combined, a qualifying Urbandale buyer can access more than $45,000 in stacked assistance.
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 → |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 → |
| NFC Advantage Purchase Loan | Forgivable Loan | First mortgage up to $250,000, second mortgage up to 15% LTV, plus forgivable renovation loan up to $10,000 | No | View → |
| NFC Neighborhood Reinvest Down Payment Assistance | Deferred Loan | $15,000 | 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
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- First mortgage up to $250,000, second mortgage up to 15% LTV, plus forgivable renovation loan up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- $15,000
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The two largest programs (Polk County DPA and NFC Neighborhood Reinvest) require household income at or below 80% of area median income, plus first-time or non-owning status at closing. Many state programs cap income around 80% AMI as well, though Homes for Iowans and Dupaco HomeReady allow higher income levels.
Complete homebuyer education. HOME, Inc. is the only HUD-certified housing counseling agency in Central Iowa and delivers the required 8-hour course through eHome at your own pace. Register at homeincdsm.org or call 515-243-1277. Eight hours of education is required before Polk County DPA closing.
Confirm your property is in a qualifying area. NFC lending areas cover parts of Urbandale tied to low-to-moderate income census tracts — check the NFC lending map or call 515-246-0010 to confirm before making an offer. The Polk County DPA applies to owner-occupied primary residences countywide.
Get pre-approved with a participating lender. For the Polk County $30,000 DPA, use one of the 16 participating lenders (NFC administers the program). For Iowa Finance Authority programs, choose an IFA-approved lender so you can layer the FirstHome Program, IFA 2nd Loan, and FirstHome Plus grant.
Find a home within program limits. Urbandale's median home value of around $356,000 is above some state program purchase price caps — confirm current IFA purchase price limits with your lender. NFC and Polk County DPA do not publish hard purchase price caps but tie eligibility to income.
Submit your application and close. Plan on 45-60 days from application to closing. Polk County DPA and NFC Neighborhood Reinvest are deferred loans with no payments until sale, refinance, or the home is no longer your primary residence.
Claim ongoing benefits. If you took the Iowa Mortgage Credit Certificate, file it with your federal tax return each year you occupy the home. Keep records of all assistance — some programs have owner-occupancy requirements that apply for years after closing.