30Y Mortgage7.24% Gold$3,919.8 Silver$49.59 Platinum$1,422 Palladium$955 BRK.B$556.11 ▲2.51%JPM$340.58 ▲1.05%LLY$1,410.99 ▼0.46%V$425.51 ▲2.88%WMT$127.69 ▲3.38%ORCL$119.22 ▼8.76%MA$658.10 ▲3.15%XOM$179.67 ▼4.05%JNJ$270.56 ▼0.97%TSM$398.63 ▼1.85%BTC$77,615 ▲1.04%ETH$2,284.33 ▲1.60%BNB$696.69 ▲0.11%XRP$1.27 ▲2.02%SOL$93.2 ▲1.80%TRX$0.32 ▲2.09%ZEC$1,203.82 ▲4.51%HYPE$85.17 ▲1.88%XMR$629 ▲3.69%DOGE$0.08 ▲1.76%30Y Mortgage7.24% Gold$3,919.8 Silver$49.59 Platinum$1,422 Palladium$955 BRK.B$556.11 ▲2.51%JPM$340.58 ▲1.05%LLY$1,410.99 ▼0.46%V$425.51 ▲2.88%WMT$127.69 ▲3.38%ORCL$119.22 ▼8.76%MA$658.10 ▲3.15%XOM$179.67 ▼4.05%JNJ$270.56 ▼0.97%TSM$398.63 ▼1.85%BTC$77,615 ▲1.04%ETH$2,284.33 ▲1.60%BNB$696.69 ▲0.11%XRP$1.27 ▲2.02%SOL$93.2 ▲1.80%TRX$0.32 ▲2.09%ZEC$1,203.82 ▲4.51%HYPE$85.17 ▲1.88%XMR$629 ▲3.69%DOGE$0.08 ▲1.76%

Buying a home in Iowa

Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in Iowa.

For home buyers in Iowa: the taxes and typical costs of buying, with official sources.

Effective property tax rate
1.39%
Median tax $2,897 ÷ median value $208,000 (ACS 2020–2024)
Typical home value
$236,623
Zillow ZHVI, 2026-09
Transfer & recording taxes Estimate
$378
Total on a $236,623 home; buyer’s typical share $0.
How we estimated$0.80 per $500 of value above the first $500 (Iowa Code §428A.1), about 0.16%. The statute does not assign the payer; by custom the seller usually pays. Sources: Iowa Code §428A.1. Checked 2026-10-15.
Buyer’s transfer & recording taxes Estimate
$0
On a $236,623 home. Lender fees and title insurance aren’t included because we don’t have a sourced figure for them in Iowa. Estimate the rest.

At Iowa's effective rate of 1.39%, a typical $236,623 home would owe about $3,289/year ($274/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

Iowa Finance Authority

Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit Iowa Finance Authority →

Next steps

Cheapest & priciest ZIPs in IowaZIP codes ranked by typical home valueIowa first-time buyer programsDown payment assistance from the state HFAPayment on a typical Iowa home$236,623 home at your state's tax rateMortgage rates today30-year fixed at 7.24%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-11-01.

Common questions

What is the property tax rate in Iowa?

The effective property tax rate in Iowa is 1.39%: the median tax of $2,897 divided by the median home value of $208,000 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024).

What is a typical home value in Iowa?

$236,623 in September 2026, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.

Who offers first-time homebuyer help in Iowa?

Iowa Finance Authority, the state housing finance agency, offers down payment assistance and lower-rate loans for eligible buyers.

Updated . Official sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, Zillow Research ZHVI.

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