State report · HMDA 2025
Iowa mortgages and home buyers, 2025
Incomes, down payments, rates, loan costs, denials and lenders across Iowa's 99 counties, from official HMDA records.
HMDA 2025 data released June 23, 2026
In 2025, lenders reported 32,306 home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family homes in Iowa. The median buyer borrowed $215,000 on a home valued at $255,000 and reported a household income of $89,000.
Buyers financed a median 92.2% of the home's value (roughly 7.8% down), paid a median 6.375% on 30-year fixed conventional loans and faced median conventional loan costs of $2,380.
Lenders denied 6.3% of completed home-purchase applications.
Purchase loans
32,306
511 lenders active
Buyer income
$89,000
U.S. $116,000
Down payment
7.8%
U.S. 10%
30-yr fixed rate
6.375%
U.S. 6.625%
Loan costs
$2,380
Conventional · U.S. $5,570
FHA limit 2026
$541,287
1-unit home, all counties
Key facts
- Home buyers' median income ($89,000) is 23% lower than the U.S. median ($116,000).
- The median 30-year fixed conventional rate here was 25 basis points below the U.S. median (6.625%).
- Median conventional loan costs ($2,380) were 57% lower than the U.S. median ($5,570).
- FHA loans made up 12.9% of purchase mortgages, versus 21.1% nationally.
- The most common age bracket among borrowers was 25–34 (34.8% of purchase loans).
- 53.1% of purchase mortgages had a single borrower with no co-applicant.
- The most-cited reason for denial was debt-to-income ratio (33.7% of denials with a stated reason).
The 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 for a one-unit home in every Iowa county. See every Iowa county's 2026 FHA and conforming loan limits.
Iowa counties compared
Click a column to sort. Medians shown with at least 30 loans.
| County | Purchase loans | Median loan | Buyer income | Down payment | 30-yr rate | Loan costs | Denial rate | FHA limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 31 | $155,000 | $77,000 | — | — | — | 17.5% | $541,287 |
| Adams County | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | 16.7% | $541,287 |
| Allamakee County | 74 | $195,000 | $78,000 | 10.0% | — | $2,590 | 11.9% | $541,287 |
| Appanoose County | 79 | $155,000 | $71,000 | 3.5% | — | $2,810 | 13.8% | $541,287 |
| Audubon County | 48 | $135,000 | $87,000 | 3.5% | — | — | 9.4% | $541,287 |
| Benton County | 299 | $185,000 | $80,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $2,230 | 5.2% | $541,287 |
| Black Hawk County | 1,306 | $175,000 | $80,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $1,940 | 3.7% | $541,287 |
| Boone County | 273 | $205,000 | $84,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $2,760 | 7.7% | $541,287 |
| Bremer County | 270 | $185,000 | $84,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $1,960 | 3.1% | $541,287 |
| Buchanan County | 194 | $175,000 | $81,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $2,090 | 9.0% | $541,287 |
| Buena Vista County | 153 | $175,000 | $73,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $3,250 | 10.5% | $541,287 |
| Butler County | 130 | $155,000 | $73,000 | 6.5% | 6.375% | $2,110 | 2.2% | $541,287 |
| Calhoun County | 61 | $135,000 | $63,000 | 5.0% | — | $3,120 | 11.1% | $541,287 |
| Carroll County | 121 | $155,000 | $76,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $2,740 | 6.8% | $541,287 |
| Cass County | 130 | $155,000 | $68,000 | 5.0% | 6.750% | $3,640 | 13.5% | $541,287 |
| Cedar County | 224 | $195,000 | $84,000 | 10.0% | 6.375% | $2,210 | 3.7% | $541,287 |
| Cerro Gordo County | 251 | $165,000 | $74,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $3,120 | 10.6% | $541,287 |
| Cherokee County | 87 | $145,000 | $67,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $4,220 | 13.9% | $541,287 |
| Chickasaw County | 97 | $165,000 | $80,000 | 6.3% | — | $2,780 | 7.4% | $541,287 |
| Clarke County | 89 | $175,000 | $73,000 | 5.0% | 6.490% | $2,640 | 14.0% | $541,287 |
| Clay County | 132 | $165,000 | $73,000 | 7.6% | 6.500% | $2,500 | 7.0% | $541,287 |
| Clayton County | 128 | $145,000 | $75,000 | 10.0% | — | $2,140 | 9.5% | $541,287 |
| Clinton County | 395 | $155,000 | $76,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $2,580 | 9.7% | $541,287 |
| Crawford County | 91 | $145,000 | $64,000 | 6.7% | 6.625% | $2,980 | 14.1% | $541,287 |
| Dallas County | 1,935 | $325,000 | $125,000 | 15.0% | 6.375% | $2,410 | 5.3% | $541,287 |
| Davis County | 40 | $155,000 | $66,000 | 3.5% | — | — | 9.1% | $541,287 |
| Decatur County | 59 | $125,000 | $62,000 | 3.5% | — | — | 7.8% | $541,287 |
| Delaware County | 166 | $195,000 | $84,000 | 10.0% | 6.375% | $2,430 | 7.6% | $541,287 |
| Des Moines County | 267 | $135,000 | $65,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $2,230 | 10.8% | $541,287 |
| Dickinson County | 130 | $295,000 | $106,000 | 20.0% | 6.500% | $3,810 | 4.3% | $541,287 |
| Dubuque County | 1,031 | $215,000 | $84,000 | 15.0% | 6.250% | $2,340 | 4.2% | $541,287 |
| Emmet County | 64 | $135,000 | $75,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $2,700 | 9.9% | $541,287 |
| Fayette County | 151 | $135,000 | $73,000 | 3.5% | 6.625% | $2,090 | 12.4% | $541,287 |
| Floyd County | 62 | $125,000 | $65,000 | 3.5% | — | — | 10.0% | $541,287 |
| Franklin County | 35 | $165,000 | $75,000 | — | — | — | 10.3% | $541,287 |
| Fremont County | 52 | $185,000 | $89,000 | 5.0% | — | — | 10.2% | $541,287 |
| Greene County | 77 | $135,000 | $75,000 | 3.5% | — | $3,010 | 7.0% | $541,287 |
| Grundy County | 152 | $185,000 | $88,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $2,060 | 5.0% | $541,287 |
| Guthrie County | 111 | $205,000 | $87,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $3,160 | 7.1% | $541,287 |
| Hamilton County | 99 | $185,000 | $85,000 | 8.6% | 6.375% | $2,890 | 15.3% | $541,287 |
| Hancock County | 73 | $175,000 | $79,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $2,720 | 9.4% | $541,287 |
| Hardin County | 138 | $135,000 | $68,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $2,650 | 14.1% | $541,287 |
| Harrison County | 162 | $195,000 | $91,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $3,140 | 12.0% | $541,287 |
| Henry County | 121 | $165,000 | $71,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $2,460 | 11.0% | $541,287 |
| Howard County | 53 | $155,000 | $65,000 | — | — | — | 13.1% | $541,287 |
| Humboldt County | 83 | $155,000 | $83,000 | 10.0% | 6.625% | $2,990 | 9.7% | $541,287 |
| Ida County | 54 | $115,000 | $64,000 | 5.0% | — | — | 8.3% | $541,287 |
| Iowa County | 175 | $185,000 | $81,000 | 5.0% | 6.250% | $2,050 | 4.3% | $541,287 |
| Jackson County | 120 | $155,000 | $73,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $2,710 | 12.1% | $541,287 |
| Jasper County | 451 | $195,000 | $78,000 | 3.5% | 6.500% | $2,870 | 7.3% | $541,287 |
| Jefferson County | 114 | $155,000 | $74,000 | 10.0% | 6.375% | $2,710 | 3.3% | $541,287 |
| Johnson County | 1,790 | $275,000 | $116,000 | 15.0% | 6.250% | $1,880 | 3.0% | $541,287 |
| Jones County | 168 | $175,000 | $67,000 | 4.5% | 6.375% | $2,150 | 7.0% | $541,287 |
| Keokuk County | 65 | $145,000 | $76,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $2,560 | 9.3% | $541,287 |
| Kossuth County | 109 | $145,000 | $67,000 | 5.0% | 6.750% | $2,990 | 15.0% | $541,287 |
| Lee County | 140 | $125,000 | $67,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $2,380 | 13.4% | $541,287 |
| Linn County | 2,931 | $195,000 | $87,000 | 10.0% | 6.250% | $2,020 | 3.5% | $541,287 |
| Louisa County | 53 | $145,000 | $79,000 | 5.0% | — | $2,280 | 9.8% | $541,287 |
| Lucas County | 79 | $185,000 | $82,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $2,970 | 12.1% | $541,287 |
| Lyon County | 110 | $205,000 | $78,000 | 13.8% | 6.625% | $3,150 | 13.1% | $541,287 |
| Madison County | 196 | $265,000 | $114,000 | 7.2% | 6.625% | $3,040 | 6.9% | $541,287 |
| Mahaska County | 174 | $185,000 | $84,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $2,830 | 7.8% | $541,287 |
| Marion County | 300 | $225,000 | $88,000 | 10.0% | 6.500% | $2,590 | 7.0% | $541,287 |
| Marshall County | 285 | $165,000 | $68,000 | 5.0% | 6.550% | $3,080 | 9.4% | $541,287 |
| Mills County | 207 | $255,000 | $101,000 | 5.0% | 6.750% | $3,780 | 5.4% | $541,287 |
| Mitchell County | 56 | $145,000 | $80,000 | — | — | — | 11.1% | $541,287 |
| Monona County | 76 | $155,000 | $75,000 | 3.5% | — | $3,550 | 16.1% | $541,287 |
| Monroe County | 49 | $165,000 | $72,000 | 3.0% | — | $2,670 | 10.9% | $541,287 |
| Montgomery County | 67 | $145,000 | $69,000 | 5.0% | 6.750% | $3,200 | 20.0% | $541,287 |
| Muscatine County | 312 | $175,000 | $82,000 | 6.4% | 6.500% | $2,540 | 6.8% | $541,287 |
| O'Brien County | 97 | $175,000 | $78,000 | 3.5% | 6.500% | $3,240 | 11.4% | $541,287 |
| Osceola County | 35 | $165,000 | $75,000 | — | — | — | 16.7% | $541,287 |
| Page County | 122 | $145,000 | $75,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $3,250 | 8.9% | $541,287 |
| Palo Alto County | 53 | $135,000 | $67,000 | 5.0% | — | $3,000 | 8.3% | $541,287 |
| Plymouth County | 190 | $235,000 | $86,000 | 10.0% | 6.500% | $3,650 | 4.8% | $541,287 |
| Pocahontas County | 58 | $125,000 | $76,000 | 10.0% | — | $2,850 | 10.6% | $541,287 |
| Polk County | 6,175 | $255,000 | $94,000 | 8.0% | 6.375% | $2,460 | 4.9% | $541,287 |
| Pottawattamie County | 946 | $215,000 | $85,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $3,380 | 5.3% | $541,287 |
| Poweshiek County | 176 | $175,000 | $75,000 | 5.0% | 6.375% | $2,160 | 6.1% | $541,287 |
| Ringgold County | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | 12.1% | $541,287 |
| Sac County | 67 | $125,000 | $66,000 | 5.0% | — | $3,100 | 4.1% | $541,287 |
| Scott County | 2,100 | $215,000 | $94,000 | 10.0% | 6.375% | $2,350 | 5.2% | $541,287 |
| Shelby County | 110 | $175,000 | $81,000 | 5.0% | 6.625% | $2,860 | 9.8% | $541,287 |
| Sioux County | 339 | $235,000 | $92,000 | 10.0% | 6.625% | $2,870 | 8.8% | $541,287 |
| Story County | 764 | $255,000 | $103,000 | 13.0% | 6.500% | $2,580 | 4.1% | $541,287 |
| Tama County | 128 | $145,000 | $72,000 | 3.5% | 6.490% | $2,200 | 9.7% | $541,287 |
| Taylor County | 32 | $145,000 | $78,000 | 5.0% | — | — | 17.9% | $541,287 |
| Union County | 97 | $145,000 | $62,000 | 3.5% | 6.550% | $2,780 | 21.0% | $541,287 |
| Van Buren County | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | $541,287 |
| Wapello County | 253 | $135,000 | $68,000 | 4.3% | 6.625% | $2,660 | 8.2% | $541,287 |
| Warren County | 895 | $265,000 | $108,000 | 10.0% | 6.375% | $2,650 | 5.7% | $541,287 |
| Washington County | 257 | $205,000 | $85,000 | 5.4% | 6.250% | $2,090 | 4.0% | $541,287 |
| Wayne County | 42 | $155,000 | $90,000 | 3.5% | — | — | 15.7% | $541,287 |
| Webster County | 295 | $145,000 | $72,000 | 5.0% | 6.450% | $2,300 | 7.8% | $541,287 |
| Winnebago County | 83 | $155,000 | $70,000 | 5.0% | 6.750% | $3,680 | 9.6% | $541,287 |
| Winneshiek County | 83 | $215,000 | $91,000 | 15.0% | — | $2,330 | 5.6% | $541,287 |
| Woodbury County | 871 | $205,000 | $84,000 | 5.0% | 6.500% | $4,210 | 8.5% | $541,287 |
| Worth County | 53 | $125,000 | $66,000 | 3.0% | — | — | 11.1% | $541,287 |
| Wright County | 76 | $135,000 | $64,000 | 3.9% | 6.625% | $3,050 | 8.3% | $541,287 |
Who bought homes in Iowa
Home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family (1–4 unit) site-built homes, first liens, originated in 2025.
Purchase loans
32,306
of 35,263 applications
Buyer income
$89,000
Middle half $62,000–$133,000
Home value
$255,000
Middle half $175,000–$365,000
Loan amount
$215,000
Middle half $155,000–$305,000
Down payment
7.8%
34.5% put 20%+ down
Single borrower
53.1%
No co-applicant
Values are medians; "middle half" is the 25th to 75th percentile.
Loan type
What the homes were for
All first-lien, closed-end purchase mortgages, including second homes and investors.
Borrower age
Debt-to-income ratio
Monthly debts (including the new payment) as a share of income, as used in underwriting.
What borrowing cost in Iowa
Medians for 2025 home-purchase loans. Total loan costs are section D of the Loan Estimate/Closing Disclosure (lender and third-party loan charges, excluding taxes, prepaids and escrow). FHA and VA costs include the upfront mortgage insurance premium or VA funding fee, so compare like with like.
| Measure | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 30-year fixed rate · conventional | 6.375% | 6.625% |
| 30-year fixed rate · FHA | 6.500% | 6.250% |
| 30-year fixed rate · VA | 6.250% | 6.125% |
| 15-year fixed rate · conventional | 5.750% | 5.875% |
| Rate spread vs. APOR · conventional | −0.05 pts | +0.13 pts |
| Total loan costs · conventional | $2,380 | $5,570 |
| Total loan costs · FHA | $7,270 | $11,310 |
| Total loan costs · VA | $4,250 | $6,490 |
| Origination charges (all loan types) | $1,000 | $1,860 |
| Borrowers paying discount points | 26.3% | 51.3% |
| Points paid, when paid (% of loan) | 0.60% | 0.87% |
| Borrowers receiving lender credits | 30.9% | 33.1% |
| Adjustable-rate mortgages | 12.7% | 7.4% |
| Jumbo loans (above conforming limit) | 0.5% | 3.8% |
Medians are shown only when at least 30 loans report the field. Rates are those reported at closing; market rates changed during 2025, which the rate spread (APR minus the average prime offer rate on the lock date) adjusts for.
Approvals and denials
Iowa: 2,217 of 35,263 completed home-purchase applications were denied (6.3%).
Denial rate
| Application | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Home purchase | 6.3% | 8.5% |
| Conventional | 4.7% | 7.1% |
| FHA | 11.7% | 12.5% |
| VA | 7.8% | 8.0% |
| USDA | 22.1% | 12.5% |
| Refinance | 16.7% | 17.9% |
| Cash-out refinance | 35.3% | 33.6% |
Main reason for purchase denials
First reason the lender reported.
Denial rate = denied ÷ (originated + approved but not accepted + denied). Withdrawn and incomplete applications are excluded. Differences between places reflect who applies, not only lender behavior.
Refinancing in Iowa
Refinances
6,874
Median loan $225,000
Refi rate
6.125%
30-yr fixed, conv.
Refi loan costs
$2,060
Conventional
Cash-out refis
4,435
Median loan $165,000
Cash-out rate
6.75%
30-yr fixed, conv.
Cash-out income
$82,000
Median borrower
Top mortgage lenders in Iowa
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Denial rate | 30-yr rate* | Spread* | Costs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenstate Credit Union | 5,464 | 12.5% | 1.5% | 6.250% | −0.23 | $1,910 |
| 2 | Veridian Credit Union | 2,338 | 5.4% | 1.7% | 6.375% | −0.20 | $1,940 |
| 3 | Rocket Mortgage, LLC | 1,890 | 4.3% | 15.3% | 6.750% | +0.40 | $4,510 |
| 4 | Iowa Bankers Mortgage Corporation | 1,744 | 4.0% | 17.1% | 6.500% | +0.03 | $2,500 |
| 5 | Hills Bank and Trust Company | 1,361 | 3.1% | 0.4% | 6.125% | −0.21 | $1,900 |
| 6 | United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) | 1,314 | 3.0% | 5.5% | 6.532% | +0.17 | $4,280 |
| 7 | New American Funding | 1,061 | 2.4% | 3.0% | 6.750% | +0.35 | $4,130 |
| 8 | Veterans United Home Loans | 939 | 2.1% | 9.2% | 6.990% | +0.52 | $3,350 |
| 9 | Northwest Bank | 892 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 6.500% | +0.10 | $2,550 |
| 10 | U.S. Bank, N.A. | 864 | 2.0% | 8.6% | 6.625% | +0.17 | $3,070 |
| 11 | Community Choice Credit Union | 785 | 1.8% | 1.4% | 6.375% | −0.15 | $2,410 |
| 12 | Dupaco Community | 664 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 6.250% | −0.22 | $2,180 |
| 13 | DHI Mortgage Company, Ltd. | 633 | 1.5% | 13.9% | 5.500% | −1.02 | $1,440 |
| 14 | Community 1st Credit Union | 619 | 1.4% | 2.7% | — | +0.62 | $2,480 |
| 15 | Central Bank | 573 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 6.375% | +0.00 | $3,920 |
| 16 | Residential Mortgage Network, Inc. | 518 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 6.625% | +0.22 | $2,400 |
| 17 | Rate | 488 | 1.1% | 6.0% | 6.525% | +0.31 | $3,330 |
| 18 | Guild Mortgage Company | 476 | 1.1% | 2.0% | 6.750% | +0.32 | $3,270 |
| 19 | Lower, LLC | 461 | 1.1% | 4.3% | 6.750% | +0.46 | $2,820 |
| 20 | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | 460 | 1.1% | 13.8% | 6.500% | +0.04 | $3,440 |
| 21 | Luana Savings Bank | 456 | 1.1% | 2.0% | 6.250% | −0.34 | $1,380 |
| 22 | Homeservices Lending, LLC | 446 | 1.0% | 2.0% | 6.625% | +0.31 | $4,350 |
| 23 | Pennymac Loan Services, LLC | 428 | 1.0% | 13.4% | 6.750% | +0.22 | $3,420 |
| 24 | West Gate Bank | 427 | 1.0% | 2.4% | 6.375% | −0.07 | $2,680 |
| 25 | Gershman Investment Corp. | 375 | 0.9% | 3.0% | 6.375% | −0.02 | $2,930 |
Largest lenders in Iowa by 2025 originations. Loans = home-purchase, refinance and cash-out originations (2025); share = share of those loans here; denial rate = home-purchase applications. *Medians for conventional home-purchase loans, shown with at least 20 loans; spread = APR minus the average prime offer rate at rate lock (percentage points); costs = total loan costs (section D).
Metro areas in Iowa
- Omaha, NE-IA · 11,345 purchases
- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · 9,763 purchases
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL · 4,102 purchases
- Cedar Rapids, IA · 3,398 purchases
- Iowa City, IA · 2,047 purchases
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 1,728 purchases
- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD · 1,161 purchases
- Ames, IA · 1,037 purchases
- Dubuque, IA · 1,031 purchases
Source: FFIEC/CFPB HMDA 2025 public LAR; FHFA and HUD 2026 loan limits. Methodology