First Time Home Buyer in Iowa: The Des Moines Guide
Buying your first home in Des Moines is far less mysterious than it looks from the outside. Here's how the process actually runs, the Iowa programs worth asking your lender about, and what to have ready before you start touring.
Iowa first-time buyer programs to ask about
The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) runs the state's main homebuyer assistance programs. Eligibility, income caps, and purchase-price limits change, so confirm current details with your lender or at iowafinance.com. I'll connect you with local lenders who work with these programs every week.
IFA FirstHome
The Iowa Finance Authority's mortgage program for first-time buyers who meet income and purchase-price limits, with an optional down payment and closing cost assistance add-on.
Homes for Iowans
IFA's program open to both first-time and repeat buyers, with its own income and purchase-price limits and the same optional assistance add-on.
Military Homeownership Assistance
IFA grant assistance for eligible service members and veterans buying a home in Iowa.
First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account
An Iowa account that lets you set aside money for a first home with a state tax deduction on qualifying contributions.
The buying process, step by step
- 01
Get pre-approved first
Talk to a lender before you tour anything. Pre-approval tells you your real budget, your monthly payment, and how much cash you need at closing — and sellers in Des Moines expect it with an offer.
- 02
Set your must-haves
Commute, school district, yard, garage, condition. We narrow Des Moines — Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Johnston, Beaverdale, the East Side — to the areas that actually fit your budget and your life.
- 03
Tour and compare
You get a shortlist and honest feedback on each one: what's a good bone structure, what's a money pit, what the neighborhood is really like.
- 04
Write a competitive offer
Price, earnest money, inspection and financing contingencies, possession date. I walk you through each line before you sign.
- 05
Inspection and appraisal
You hire an inspector, we review findings together, and we negotiate repairs or credits where it makes sense. The lender's appraisal confirms the value.
- 06
Closing day
Final walkthrough, sign, get the keys. I'm there for all of it, and afterward when you need a contractor recommendation.
What to have ready
- Two years of tax returns or W-2s, plus recent pay stubs.
- Recent bank statements showing your down payment and reserves.
- A sense of your credit — pull it free before your lender does.
- Cash for earnest money and the home inspection.
- A realistic monthly payment number, taxes and insurance included.
Want the numbers for a specific area? The Des Moines pricing guide breaks down current prices, and the neighborhood pages cover what each part of Des Moines feels like.
Start with a conversation, not a listing
No pressure and no obligation — we'll map out your timeline, your budget, and the neighborhoods worth your Saturdays.
Book a free buyer call