Zero-down USDA Guaranteed Loans are the most popular rural development mortgage program in Iowa. These loans are available for anyone with low to moderate income to purchase a home in approved rural areas with no down payment. The USDA Guaranteed Loan Program is also the favorite no-down payment mortgage in Iowa for non-veterans today, and can be used for a broader range of applicant incomes than USDA Direct Loans.
What are Iowa USDA Loans?
The USDA loan program was created by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, also known as “USDA RD”. USDA Guaranteed Loans (also known as USDA Section 502 Guaranteed Loans) are a mortgage program for low and moderate income mortgage applicants. Iowa USDA loans provide low-cost, government insured mortgage options that suit a variety of home buying needs. The most common mortgages offered through USDA are known as “Guaranteed” loans. USDA Guaranteed Loans are 100% financing mortgages, which means you can use them to buy a home with no down payment.
Iowa USDA Loan Requirements
USDA loan requirements mainly focus on the home loan applicant and the property. First off, the home must be located in an approved rural areas to be considered eligible for USDA financing. Second off, the home buyer must meet all income requirements set forth by USDA. These income limits are established through a combination of debt-to-income ratios and income ceilings that equal 115% of the area median income (AMI) for the particular area. Statewide, Iowa carries a median household income of $60,523, but that can vary from county to county. Ultimately, the applicant must also meet all lender requirements for mortgage approval which include:
- Credit Requirements
- Income Requirements
- Documentation Requirements
Iowa USDA Loan Limits
USDA doesn’t set specific maximum loan amounts for guaranteed mortgages. Instead, local limits are determined by a combination of the area USDA maximum income limit and the borrower’s debt-to-income ratios. This approach means that guaranteed Iowa USDA loan limits are fluid and based upon numerous factors. The limits listed below are based on approximate calculations. Actual guaranteed loan limits may vary.
Area | 1-4 Person Households | 5-8 Person Households |
|---|---|---|
| Adair County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Adams County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Allamakee County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Ames, IA MSA | $357,000 | $449,000 |
| Appanoose County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Audubon County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Benton County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $340,000 | $431,000 |
| Boone County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Bremer County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $340,000 | $449,000 |
| Buchanan County, IA | $306,000 | $408,000 |
| Buena Vista County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Butler County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Calhoun County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Carroll County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Cass County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Cedar County, IA | $306,000 | $408,000 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $357,000 | $466,000 |
| Cerro Gordo County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Cherokee County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Chickasaw County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Clarke County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Clay County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Clayton County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Clinton County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Crawford County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Davis County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Decatur County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Delaware County, IA | $306,000 | $408,000 |
| Des Moines County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA | $357,000 | $449,000 |
| Dickinson County, IA | $323,000 | $408,000 |
| Dubuque, IA MSA | $323,000 | $417,000 |
| Emmet County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Fayette County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Floyd County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Franklin County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Fremont County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Greene County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Grundy County, IA SEA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Hamilton County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Hancock County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Hardin County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Henry County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Howard County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Humboldt County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Ida County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Iowa City, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $374,000 | $483,000 |
| Iowa County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Jackson County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Jasper County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Jefferson County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Jones County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Keokuk County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Kossuth County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Lee County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Louisa County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Lucas County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Lyon County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Mahaska County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Marion County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Marshall County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Mitchell County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Monona County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Monroe County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Montgomery County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Muscatine County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| O'Brien County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $340,000 | $449,000 |
| Osceola County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Page County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Palo Alto County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Plymouth County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $306,000 | $408,000 |
| Pocahontas County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Poweshiek County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Ringgold County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Sac County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Shelby County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HUD Metro FMR Area | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Sioux County, IA | $306,000 | $408,000 |
| Tama County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Taylor County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Union County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Van Buren County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Wapello County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Washington County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HUD Metro FMR Area | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Wayne County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Webster County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Winnebago County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Winneshiek County, IA | $306,000 | $408,000 |
| Worth County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
| Wright County, IA | $306,000 | $391,000 |
Additional USDA Limits
- Iowa USDA Guaranteed Loan Income Limits
- Iowa USDA Direct Loan Limits
- Iowa USDA Direct Loan Income Limits
- All USDA Loan Limits
- USDA Loan Requirements
What is the maximum amount that I can borrow with a USDA Loan?
The maximum amount for a USDA home loan in Iowa is determined by:
- Maximum Loan Amount: There’s no set maximum loan amount for USDA rural home loans in IA. Instead, your debt-to-income ratios dictate how much home your can afford (29/41 ratios). Additionally, your total household monthly income must be within USDA allowed maximum income limits for your area. Maximum USDA Guaranteed Loan income limits for all areas can be found at here.
- Maximum Financing: The maximum USDA Rural Development Loan amount in IA is 100% of the home’s appraised value plus the 1% USDA RD Loan guarantee fee.
What types of loans does USDA offer in Iowa?
Two USDA home loan options are presently available in Iowa for single family households. These programs are backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture by way of its Rural Development Housing Loans:
- Iowa USDA Guaranteed Home Loans – Guaranteed Loans the most common Rural Housing Loans in Iowa, because they accommodate higher income limits and 100% financing for home purchases. USDA Guaranteed applicants may have an income of up to 115% of the median household income for the area, which average $60,523 across the state. Specific area income limits for the program can be viewed here. All USDA Guaranteed Loans carry 30 year terms and are set at a fixed rate.
- Iowa USDA Direct Home Loans – USDA Direct Housing Loans in Iowa are less common than USDA Guaranteed Loans and are only available for low and very low income households to obtain homeownership, as defined by the USDA. Very low income is defined as below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI); low income is between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; moderate income is 80 to 100 percent of AMI. Click here to see area income limits for this program.
What factors determine if I’m eligible for a USDA Loan in Iowa?
To be eligible for a USDA loan in Iowa, your monthly housing costs (mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, and insurance) must meet a specified percentage of your gross monthly income (29% ratio). Your credit background will be fairly considered. A 620 FICO credit score is generally required to obtain a USDA Rural Housing Loan approval through most lenders. You must also have enough income to pay your housing costs plus all additional monthly debt (41% ratio). These ratios can be exceeded somewhat with compensating factors. Applicants for loans may have an income of up to 115% of the median income for the area. Families must be without adequate housing, but be able to afford the mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance.
How much money will I need for the down payment and closing costs?
Rural Development Mortgages in Iowa require no down payment and they allow for the closing costs to be included in the loan amount (appraisal permitting).
What property types are allowed for USDA Mortgages?
While USDA Guidelines do require that the property be Owner Occupied (OO), they also allow you to purchase condos, planned unit developments, manufactured homes, and single family residences.
