First-time buyers · Iowa
Ashland is licensed in Iowa and works with buyers across the state — Des Moines and the suburbs, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Ames, Mason City, Dubuque and the small towns between. Here is how buying works in Iowa, what help exists, and what to do first.
Where Ashland's IA buyers are buying
Licensed statewide — these are just the communities that come up most. Any address in Iowa works.
Down payment help in Iowa
The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) offers two first-mortgage programs with down payment and closing cost help. FirstHome is for first-time buyers (no home owned in the last three years), eligible military buyers, and buyers in targeted areas; it offers a choice of a grant or a deferred second loan with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the loan. Homes for Iowans serves first-time and repeat buyers with the deferred second loan. Eligible service members and veterans may also qualify for IFA's Military Homeownership Assistance grant. Income and purchase-price limits apply and change periodically; Ashland checks your eligibility before you write.
Ashland · Branch Sales Manager & Loan OfficerBuying in Iowa, specifically
Iowa home prices are lower than the Twin Cities for comparable homes, which stretches a first-time budget — but property tax rates are meaningful and vary by county and city. Ashland pulls the real tax figure for any address so the payment is right the first time.
Outside Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and a handful of metros, nearly all of Iowa is USDA-eligible — $0 down for eligible buyers, often with a lower monthly fee than FHA. Ashland checks any address against the map in seconds.
Ashland is licensed in Iowa and the process is identical to a local lender's — text, phone, video, secure document upload, and a closing at a title company near you. Your real estate agent and Ashland coordinate directly on every milestone.
Loan programs for Iowa first-time buyers
The workhorse of home financing — flexible terms, competitive costs, and down payments as low as 3% for first-time buyers.
Learn more →The first-time buyer favorite — 3.5% down, friendlier credit requirements, and forgiving guidelines for real-life finances.
Learn more →For those who served — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the strongest terms in all of lending.
Learn more →$0 down for homes in eligible smaller communities across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa — far more towns qualify than buyers expect.
Learn more →Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa all have real down payment help — Minnesota Housing, WHEDA and Iowa Finance Authority programs can put thousands toward your down payment and closing costs.
Learn more →Six myths busted and the six-step path from first text to keys — the page to read before anything else.
Start here →How it works from Eden Prairie
Text, phone, video, secure document upload, and a closing at a title company near you. Your Iowa real estate agent and Ashland talk directly at every milestone — offer-day numbers in minutes and a call to every listing agent included.
Timing varies by file and depends on receiving complete documentation. Turnaround figures are typical, not guaranteed. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement; not all customers will qualify. Rates, programs and terms are subject to change. All loans subject to credit and property approval.
Iowa first-time buyer questions
Iowa first-time buyers can use conventional loans with as little as 3% down, FHA with 3.5% down, VA or USDA with $0 down for eligible buyers, and the Iowa Finance Authority's FirstHome program, which adds a grant or a deferred second loan for down payment and closing costs for eligible households.
FirstHome is the Iowa Finance Authority's first mortgage program for first-time buyers, eligible military buyers and buyers in targeted areas. It pairs an IFA first mortgage with a choice of a grant or a deferred second loan toward down payment and closing costs, subject to income and purchase-price limits.
Yes. The Iowa Finance Authority's Homes for Iowans program serves first-time and repeat buyers purchasing a primary residence, with a deferred second loan for down payment and closing costs for eligible households.
Yes. Ashland Alitz holds Iowa license #42587 and works with buyers across the state from Fairway Home Mortgage's Eden Prairie, MN branch.
Iowa buyers
After that it's just a conversation. Text Ashland what you're wondering about buying in Iowa — tonight is fine.
Applications happen on Fairway's secure site — never here.
