DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE

HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER LOAN PROGRAM

This program provides long-term, no-interest (0%), $5,000 loans to help purchase your first home. (If household income is less than 30% of the area median income, you could be eligible to receive $25,000; please contact our office for additional information.)

Informational Flyer | Application

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Find out how to transition from renting to buying a home through the HCV Program.

Click for more details.

Washington Neighborhood Homeowner Purchase Program Financial Incentives

Special lending guidelines apply for homeowners at any income level. All are encouraged to inquire and apply.

Iowa Finance Authority

Iowa Finance Authority offers down payment and closing cost assistance of up to $2,500 (please contact your lender for details).

For additional information on the Washington Neighborhood Homeowner Purchase Program, contact the Housing and Community Development Department or call 563.589.4239.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) has touched the lives of countless Iowans through a wide variety of affordable financing programs throughout its 40 year history.

Affordable housing programs offered by IFA include mortgage and down payment assistance as well as programs that assist in the development and preservation of affordable rental properties.

IFA also offers programs to assist in community development, including the issuance of tax-exempt bonds and providing low-cost funds for drinking water and waste water facilities through the State Revolving Fund.

In addition, the Agricultural Development Division offers loan and tax credit programs to assist beginning Iowa farmers. Iowa Title Guaranty is also administered at IFA and offers guaranteed title to real property in Iowa.

Affordable Homeownership

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) offers affordable mortgage and down payment assistance programs for both first-time home buyers and those who have owned a home previously, in partnership with our local Participating Lenders.

The FirstHome and Homes for Iowans Programs offer eligible first-time and repeat home buyers affordable, fixed rate mortgages for the purchase of a primary residence in Iowa. FirstHome Plus and Homes for Iowans Plus (the "Plus" Programs) offer these same home buyers the option of pairing a grant of up to $2,500 to help with down payment and closing costs with an affordable, fixed rate mortgage.

IFA also administers the Military Homeownership Assistance Program, which provides eligible service members and veterans with a $5,000 grant for down payment and closing costs. The Military Homeownership Assistance grant may be combined with a Plus grant for a total of $7,500 of down payment and closing cost assistance for borrowers who qualify for both programs. However, an individual borrower is limited to one-time use of a Plus grant and one-time use of a Military Homeownership Assistance grant.

Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans

Also known as the Section 502 Direct Loan Program, this program assists low- and very-low-income applicants obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing in eligible rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant’s repayment ability. Payment assistance is a type of subsidy that reduces the mortgage payment for a short time. The amount of assistance is determined by the adjusted family income. To find out more about Single Family Direct Home Loans visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans

Public Housing Homeownership

Through EIRHA’s Homeownership program, first time home buying low-income households are given the opportunity to purchase their public housing units.

Do You Qualify?

The applicant must have an income at or below 80% of the county median. Program participants must be creditworthy and have the financial capacity to handle the anticipated costs of homeownership. Interested participants are required to attend a series of homeownership and financial counseling workshops prior to final program approval. To ensure affordability by eligible program participants, EIRHA’s Homeownership program provides for a combination of down payment assistance and below-market purchase prices. The amount of subsidy will be determined by the individual’s ability to purchase the home and the affordability of the monthly payment. Applicants for the Homeownership program that are currently participating in or have successfully completed the Family Self-Sufficiency program will be given preference. Click here for Income guidelines

Click here for Public Housing Homeownership Application. Upon completion of the form mail to the attention of the EIRHA Homeownership Coordinator at the following address: