The calculator below is pre-filled with Polk County's own property tax rate and insurance average (expand "More options" to see or edit them) — not just Iowa's statewide figures.

Polk County at a glance

Effective property tax rate: 1.51% of home value / year
Median home price: $276,000
Homeowners insurance (avg/year): $2,621
Conforming loan limit (1-unit, 2026): $832,750

County data last updated 2026-08-20. FIPS 19153. Full source list on /methodology.

Polk County, IA mortgage payment calculator

All-in cost first, always — pre-filled with Polk County tax and insurance figures. Estimate only, not a loan quote or pre-approval.

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Related reading

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What Is PMI, and How Do You Get Rid of It?

Private mortgage insurance explained in plain English — what it costs, why it exists, the exact federal rules for cancelling it, and how to work out the month your PMI is scheduled to end.

Guides & templates

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A month-by-month plan for the year before you buy: what to do in each phase, what never to touch, how to document every dollar, and how to survive closing day.

Iowa at a glance

Median home price: $250,000
Typical closing costs: 2%–5% of price
Transfer tax: 0.16% of sale price, customarily paid by seller
Closing custom: escrow
Homestead exemption: Iowa converted its longstanding Homestead Tax Credit into a Homestead Tax Exemption effective assessment year 2026 (claimants who already had the credit before July 1, 2026 were automatically transitioned, no refiling required). The exemption reduces a homestead's taxable value by 10%, subject to a minimum exemption of $5,500 and a maximum of $20,000 in taxable value (the maximum begins adjusting annually for inflation starting January 1, 2027); an additional $6,500 taxable-value exemption is available for qualifying homeowners age 65+. The separate 100%-disabled-veteran homestead tax credit was not affected by this change and remains available. Iowa also has one of the broadest homestead exemptions in the country for creditor/judgment protection (unlimited dollar value on a qualifying homestead, subject to acreage limits — roughly 1/2 acre in a city plat or 40 acres in the country), a different, non-property-tax benefit under Iowa Code Chapter 561.

First-time buyer / down payment assistance programs

Iowa FirstHome Program
Iowa Finance Authority's primary first-mortgage program for first-time homebuyers (or qualifying veterans/targeted-area buyers), offering below-market interest rates through participating local lenders, a minimum 3% down payment, and a free Iowa Title Guaranty Owner's Certificate; can be paired with IFA down payment assistance.
Homes for Iowans Program
Iowa Finance Authority first-mortgage program open to both first-time and repeat homebuyers statewide, generally carrying somewhat higher income and purchase-price limits than FirstHome since it is not restricted to first-time buyers; can be paired with IFA down payment assistance.