Claimed for France in 1673, Iowa was first explored by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet. This exploration documented several Indian villages and tribes. A French territory until 1763, following their defeat during the French and Indian War, ownership of the area was transferred to Spain. As part of a treaty between France and Spain, Iowa reverted back to French control in 1800. Purchased by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Iowa was admitted to the Federal Union as the 29th state in 1846.
The only states bordered by two rivers; few areas in the U.S. embody Midwestern values and living more than Iowa. Named for the Ioway tribe, no other state has an abbreviation made up of two vowels (IA). Similar to the rest of the Midwest, Iowa has a humid continental climate. The average annual temperature in Des Moines, the state’s capital and largest city is 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Averaging 50 days of thunderstorms yearly, tornadoes are common place in the spring and summer months.
Consistently listed as one of the safest states in the country, Iowa draws residents in. The population of the state is over three million, with many residents working in production, retail, education and the culinary industry. The economy is largely based in Agriculture and Manufacturing. Biotechnology and Insurance are also prominent sectors of the economy. Politically important, the Iowa presidential caucuses draw national attention every four years. Historically Republican-leaning, the state has evolved into a swing state that often goes Democrat. Iowa has a rich history of progressivism. In the 1800’s, the state began prohibiting educational, racial discrimination. The state legislature outlawed slavery in 1839. In 1851, the state eliminated barriers to interracial marriage, more than 100 years before the U.S. Supreme Court would do the same. In 2009, Iowa became the third state and first in the Midwest to allow for same-sex marriage.
Popular activities in Iowa include the Field of Dreams baseball field in Dyersville, the Des Moines State Fair, the Des Moines Art Festival, and the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride across Iowa.
The state has a veteran population of more than 230,000. This significant number means that 10 percent of Iowa’s population is comprised of veterans. The state has two major military installations—the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant and the USCG Group Upper Mississippi River. The state’s current military personnel population is at just over 17,500.
For veterans and service members planning to purchase a home in the state, using a VA home loan, a termite inspection is required.
The average home cost in the state is $126,200. Home appreciation in the past year has been nearly two percent. The cost of living in Iowa is 11 percent below the U.S. average.
All veterans (honorable discharge) living in Iowa qualify for a property tax exemption of $1,850 if they served during wartime or for a minimum of 18 months during peacetime.
Iowa VA Home Loan Limits:
NOTE: The following is for information purposes only.
To find out the exact dollar amount you qualify for, call the VA Home Loan Centers Applications Support Desk at 888-573-4496 or fill out the VA Home Loan Application located here.
The loan limits below are the maximum 2021, $0 down VA loan amount set for each county. Although there is no maximum loan amount, the maximum no money down VA home loan limits are stated as follows.
- Adair County: $548,250
- Adams County: $548,250
- Allamakee County: $548,250
- Appanoose County: $548,250
- Audubon County: $548,250
- Benton County: $548,250
- Blackhawk County: $548,250
- Boone County: $548,250
- Bremer County: $548,250
- Buchanan County: $548,250
- Buena Vista County: $548,250
- Butler County: $548,250
- Calhoun County: $548,250
- Carroll County: $548,250
- Cass County: $548,250
- Cedar County: $548,250
- Cerro Gordo County: $548,250
- Cherokee County: $548,250
- Chickasaw County: $548,250
- Clarke County: $548,250
- Clay County: $548,250
- Clayton County: $548,250
- Clinton County: $548,250
- Crawford County: $548,250
- Dallas County: $548,250
- Davis County: $548,250
- Decatur County: $548,250
- Delaware County: $548,250
- Des Monies County: $548,250
- Dickinson County: $548,250
- Dubuque County: $548,250
- Emmet County: $548,250
- Fayette County: $548,250
- Floyd County: $548,250
- Franklin County: $548,250
- Fremont County: $548,250
- Greene County: $548,250
- Grundy County: $548,250
- Guthrie County: $548,250
- Hamilton County: $548,250
- Hancock County: $548,250
- Hardin County: $548,250
- Harrison County: $548,250
- Henry County: $548,250
- Howard County: $548,250
- Humboldt County: $548,250
- Ida County: $548,250
- Iowa County: $548,250
- Jackson County: $548,250
- Jasper County: $548,250
- Jefferson County: $548,250
- Johnson County: $548,250
- Jones County: $548,250
- Keokuk County: $548,250
- Kossuth County: $548,250
- Lee County: $548,250
- Linn County: $548,250
- Louisa County: $548,250
- Lucas County: $548,250
- Lyon County: $548,250
- Madison County: $548,250
- Mahaska County: $548,250
- Marion County: $548,250
- Marshall County: $548,250
- Mills County: $548,250
- Mitchell County: $548,250
- Monona County: $548,250
- Monroe County: $548,250
- Montgomery County: $548,250
- Muscatine County: $548,250
- O’Brien County: $548,250
- Osceola County: $548,250
- Page County: $548,250
- Palo Alto County: $548,250
- Plymouth County: $548,250
- Pocahontas County: $548,250
- Polk County: $548,250
- Pottawattamie County: $548,250
- Poweshiek County: $548,250
- Ringgold County: $548,250
- Sac County: $548,250
- Scott County: $548,250
- Shelby County: $548,250
- Sioux County: $548,250
- Story County: $548,250
- Tama County: $548,250
- Taylor County: $548,250
- Union County: $548,250
- Van Buren County: $548,250
- Wapello County: $548,250
- Warren County: $548,250
- Washington County: $548,250
- Wayne County: $548,250
- Webster County: $548,250
- Winnebago County: $548,250
- Winneshiek County: $548,250
- Woodbury County: $548,250
- Worth County: $548,250
- Wright County: $548,250
