Urbandale’s market is best described as “steady but competitive.” The city issued 212 single-family permits in 2023—its highest count since 2007—yet resale inventory sits at only 1.4 months, well below the balanced 6-month benchmark. Entry-level homes in the older neighborhoods north of Douglas Parkway (built 1970–1990) trade between $240 K and $280 K, while brand-new construction in the southeast 50322 zip code fetches $350 K–$450 K. Because Polk County assessments rose 7 % this year, property-tax appeals are common; NMHL supplies each borrower with a quick-appeal packet so you can contest the assessed value within 30 days of closing and potentially knock $100 off the monthly escrow.

• Average Days on Market: 13 city-wide, 8 in Rolling Green and Lions Park
• Price per Square Foot: $155, up 5.8 % year-over-year
• Share of List Price Received: 100.4 % (sellers rarely concede)

Local insight: if you’re targeting the Meredith Drive corridor, budget an extra 2 % for closing concessions; bidding wars there regularly escalate $15 K–$20 K above list.

Olmsted Green – Sidewalk-lined streets, 1/4-acre lots, and a $270 K average price make this the top pick for buyers using 3.5 % down FHA loans. The community pond and trail system feed into Webster Elementary (rated 9/10), keeping resale demand high.

Douglas Acres – Mature trees, 3-bed ranches, and quick access to I-35/80. Median age of homes is 1978, so many sellers offer $5 K–$8 K closing credits that pair perfectly with NMHL’s down-payment-assistance grants.

Valley Park Commons – Town-home style condos priced from $215 K. HOA covers lawn care and snow removal, allowing self-employed borrowers to qualify with a lower monthly obligation; NMHL has approved 96-unit Warranties in place so financing is streamlined.

Neighborhoods to watch: Northview Park (new retail plaza slated for 2025) and Lions Park where the city is adding pickle-ball courts and a splash-pad—amenities that historically boost values 3 %–4 % within 18 months.

Property taxes in Urbandale combine Polk or Dallas County levy, city levy, school levy, and assorted ag-extension credits. On a $290 K home the gross tax before exemptions is roughly $4,120. Iowa’s Homestead Credit knocks off about $145 annually, and the Military Exemption can slice another $300–$1,850 for veterans. Because assessments occur every two years, buyers who purchase in an “off” year can base their mortgage escrow on the previous lower assessed value—NMHL automatically orders a tax-certificate at closing so your first 12 payments aren’t artificially inflated.

Landlords pay an additional 1.5 % levy, so house-hackers buying a duplex on the east side should underwrite using the investor rate of 1.58 % to avoid surprises. Finally, Urbandale participates in the Polk County Tax Sale each June; if you escrow with NMHL we pay the county direct and send you a year-end statement for easy itemization on your Iowa income-tax return.

Nearly 60 % of NMHL’s Urbandale clients last year covered part or all of their down payment using grants rather than their own savings. The big three:

• FirstHome Program – Iowa Finance Authority gives 5 % of the purchase price (up to $10 K) as a 0 % second lien forgiven after five years. Income limit $95 K for Polk County.
• Homes for Iowans Grant – $5 K that can layer on top of conventional or FHA; no first-time-buyer requirement.
• Take Credit Mortgage Credit Certificate – Converts 30 % of your annual mortgage interest into a federal tax credit, saving the average Urbandale borrower about $1,800 per year.

NMHL is an IFA participating lender, so we wrap these benefits into your pre-approval letter—sellers see you as cash-strong even when you bring little money to the table. Pro tip: if you’re buying new construction, ask the builder to roll the $5 K “Homes for Iowans” into design-center upgrades instead of closing costs; we’ve seen buyers trade the grant for hardwood floors that boosted appraisal value by $8 K.

We built a product menu for the realities of the Urbandale market—moderate purchase prices, competitive bids, and a large share of self-employed ag-tech professionals. Highlights include:

Fresh-Start Conventional – 620 credit score, 3 % down, no PMI for life of loan. Ideal for buyers recovering from past medical collections who now earn consistent W-2 wages at Wells Fargo or Athene.

Veteran FastTrack – VA zero-down with seller-paid 4 % closing concession and our in-house appraisal ordering portal that trims 5 days off the timeline; perfect when you’re bidding against cash offers in Rolling Green.

Bank-Statement Boss – 12-month deposits averaged, loan amounts to $647 K with 10 % down. Designed for influencers, real-estate agents, and farmers along the Urbandale/Grimes line who expense heavily.

Community Heroes – $500 underwriting credit and an extra 0.125 % rate reduction for teachers at Webster or Jensen Elementary, Urbandale police, and Metro-area nurses. The credit can be applied toward the IFA grant processing fee.

All loans close right here in Iowa with our West Des Moines funding team, so your file never leaves the state. We also offer a free float-down on rate-locks—if today’s 6.875 % drops to 6.5 % within 30 days of closing, you get the better rate at no cost.