2026 FHA Loan Limits in Iowa
Housing in Iowa has gotten more expensive. The median sale price was $244,600 at the end of 2025, up 5.2% from the previous year, according to data from Redfin. If saving enough money for a 10 to 20% down payment seems impossible, a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan can allow you to become a homeowner with a down payment of as little as 3.5%.
However, FHA loans do have some restrictions, and there are limits to how much you can borrow to buy a home. In Iowa, the maximum FHA loan limit ranges from $541,287 for a single-family home to $1,041,125 for four-family units.
Iowa FHA loan limits by county
In Iowa, all 99 counties within the Hawkeye State are subject to the same FHA loan limits. As of 2026, the limit is $541,287 for single-family properties.
Iowa single-family FHA loan limits
| County name | One unit | Two units | Three units | Four units | Median sales price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAIR COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $75,000 |
| ADAMS COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $85,000 |
| ALLAMAKEE COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $156,000 |
| APPANOOSE COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $109,000 |
| AUDUBON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $113,000 |
| BENTON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $215,000 |
| BLACK HAWK COUN | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $191,000 |
| BOONE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $266,000 |
| BREMER COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $191,000 |
| BUCHANAN COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $160,000 |
| BUENA VISTA COU | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $160,000 |
| BUTLER COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $145,000 |
| CALHOUN COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $100,000 |
| CARROLL COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $155,000 |
| CASS COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $115,000 |
| CEDAR COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $199,000 |
| CERRO GORDO COU | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $168,000 |
| CHEROKEE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $120,000 |
| CHICKASAW COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $143,000 |
| CLARKE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $136,000 |
| CLAY COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $148,000 |
| CLAYTON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $150,000 |
| CLINTON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $134,000 |
| CRAWFORD COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $147,000 |
| DALLAS COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $358,000 |
| DAVIS COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $110,000 |
| DECATUR COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $94,000 |
| DELAWARE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $194,000 |
| DES MOINES COUN | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $139,000 |
| DICKINSON COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $360,000 |
| DUBUQUE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $235,000 |
| EMMET COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $110,000 |
| FAYETTE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $112,000 |
| FLOYD COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $115,000 |
| FRANKLIN COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $114,000 |
| FREMONT COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $147,000 |
| GREENE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $121,000 |
| GRUNDY COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $191,000 |
| GUTHRIE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $358,000 |
| HAMILTON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $120,000 |
| HANCOCK COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $143,000 |
| HARDIN COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $125,000 |
| HARRISON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $345,000 |
| HENRY COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $140,000 |
| HOWARD COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $124,000 |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $138,000 |
| IDA COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $95,000 |
| IOWA COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $164,000 |
| JACKSON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $160,000 |
| JASPER COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $358,000 |
| JEFFERSON COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $147,000 |
| JOHNSON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $347,000 |
| JONES COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $215,000 |
| KEOKUK COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $87,000 |
| KOSSUTH COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $120,000 |
| LEE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $90,000 |
| LINN COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $215,000 |
| LOUISA COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $100,000 |
| LUCAS COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $135,000 |
| LYON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $155,000 |
| MADISON COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $358,000 |
| MAHASKA COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $150,000 |
| MARION COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $215,000 |
| MARSHALL COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $135,000 |
| MILLS COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $345,000 |
| MITCHELL COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $146,000 |
| MONONA COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $91,000 |
| MONROE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $118,000 |
| MONTGOMERY COUN | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $100,000 |
| MUSCATINE COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $160,000 |
| O’BRIEN COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $149,000 |
| OSCEOLA COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $115,000 |
| PAGE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $108,000 |
| PALO ALTO COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $100,000 |
| PLYMOUTH COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $222,000 |
| POCAHONTAS COUN | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $86,000 |
| POLK COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $358,000 |
| POTTAWATTAMIE C | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $345,000 |
| POWESHIEK COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $165,000 |
| RINGGOLD COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $82,000 |
| SAC COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $103,000 |
| SCOTT COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $225,000 |
| SHELBY COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $161,000 |
| SIOUX COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $228,000 |
| STORY COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $266,000 |
| TAMA COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $135,000 |
| TAYLOR COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $100,000 |
| UNION COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $115,000 |
| VAN BUREN COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $72,000 |
| WAPELLO COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $90,000 |
| WARREN COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $358,000 |
| WASHINGTON COUN | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $347,000 |
| WAYNE COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $76,000 |
| WEBSTER COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $119,000 |
| WINNEBAGO COUNT | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $140,000 |
| WINNESHIEK COUN | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $235,000 |
| WOODBURY COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $285,000 |
| WORTH COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $168,000 |
| WRIGHT COUNTY | $541,287 | $693,050 | $837,700 | $1,041,125 | $100,000 |
How are FHA loan limits determined?
The FHA uses two main factors to set the FHA loan limits: conforming loan limits and metropolitan statistical area (MSA) data.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) establishes limits for conventional mortgages — mortgages that aren’t affiliated with government programs — on an annual basis. The MSA provides details on location-specific pricing trends. Based on this information, the FHA sets “floor” and “ceiling” limits.
- The floor is the maximum loan amount for lower-cost areas
- The ceiling is the maximum loan for higher-cost areas
The floor is calculated as 65% of the conforming loan limit, while the ceiling is capped at 150% of the national conforming loan limit. The 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750
That means in 2026:
- The floor is $541,287
- For single-family homes, the ceiling is $1,249,125
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have even higher loan limits of $1,873,687 for a single-family home because they’re designated as special exception areas given the higher cost of construction.
How to qualify for an FHA loan in Iowa
Per data from NAR, the median down payment in 2025 among first-time home buyers was 10%. Most buyers will need a minimum down payment of 5% and a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a conventional loan. FHA loans can make homeownership easier thanks to lower credit score and down payment requirements. Here are the minimum mortgage requirements you need to meet for an FHA loan:
- Minimum 500 credit score: To qualify for an FHA loan with the lowest-possible down payment of 3.5%, you need a 580 credit score or better. Applicants with a credit score between 500 and 579 will need a down payment of 10%.
- Minimum 3.5% down payment: With an FHA loan, the required down payment varies based on your credit score; depending on your score, the minimum down payment can be 3.5% or 10%. The typical sales price in Iowa is about $245,000, so you’ll need between $8,575 and $12,250 for a down payment.
- Maximum 43% debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: The DTI ratio is how much of your earnings go toward your monthly debt payments, such as your car loan or personal loans. For FHA loans, the maximum DTI is 43%, and that maximum includes all of your fixed payments.
- Mortgage insurance: As an FHA borrower, you need to have mortgage insurance for the duration of your loan. Mortgage insurance requires an upfront cost when you take out the loan, and you’ll also have to pay a monthly fee. The upfront cost is 1.75% of the loan amount, while the annual mortgage insurance premiums range from 0.15% to 0.75% of the loan amount and are rolled into your monthly mortgage payments.
- Property type: Under FHA guidelines, homebuyers can only use FHA mortgages to purchase owner-occupied primary residences. The properties also have to undergo appraisals and inspections to ensure they meet standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). If, during the inspection, the inspector identifies issues with the property’s condition, the seller will have to fix the property before the sale can close.
- Cash reserves: If your DTI is too high, you may need to show that you have cash reserves to qualify for a loan. For one- or two-unit properties, you may need three months of payments saved. For three- or four-unit properties, you’ll need six months of payments in cash reserves.
Buying a multifamily property with an FHA loan
Iowa has a lower-than-average cost of living, and one way to make homeownership even more affordable is through house hacking, the strategy of buying a multi-unit property and renting out another unit.
FHA loans are only for primary residences, not investment properties or vacation homes, but you can use an FHA loan for house hacking if you buy a multifamily property and live in one of the units. You can rent out the other units and use that income to cover some or all of your mortgage.
These are the criteria for FHA loans for multifamily properties:
- A credit score of 500 or higher (580 or higher for the lowest down payment of 3.5%)
- DTI of 43% or better
- Mortgage insurance
- Property meets HUD use and condition standards
- Cash reserves of three to six months of payments saved
The FHA loan limits for multifamily properties in Iowa in 2026 are:
| Number of units | Low-cost FHA loan limit |
|---|---|
| Two | $693,050 |
| Three | $837,700 |
| Four | $1,041,125 |
FHA lenders in Iowa
| Lender | LendingTree rating | Minimum FHA credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
 |
Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
 |
Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
 |
Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 | |
 |
Expert review from LendingTree.
| 580 |
Compare FHA Loans for Free