PRINTABLE Lending Area Map  We have kept this map small to fit on an 8.5 x 11 page, so you can print it from your home computer to take with you while you are house hunting.  Only major streets are labeled on this map.  For additional clarity, you can zoom up to 1600% on the document.

Lending Area Map  This map is larger and NOT recommended for printing, but many streets in Des Moines are labeled on this map.  Due to the greater number of graphics in this map, it may take longer to download than anticipated.  We recommend you use this map to find the home or general area you are looking for, and then print the 1st map to take with you while you are house hunting.  For additional clarity, you can zoom up to 1600% on the document.

With your map, be sure to take the House Hunting Checklist from NeighborWorks(R) America, to provide you with a great way to organize information on each house during your home shopping search.

Neighborhood Finance Corporation’s (NFC) mission is to facilitate neighborhood revitalization in designated areas of the City of Des Moines.  The shaded areas of the map define NFC lending areas in the City of Des Moines.   If you are purchasing a home or own a home in one of these shaded areas, you may be eligible for a loan from NFC.

The NFC Advantage:

Up to $12,500 in subsidies you may not have to repay!  When you qualify for an NFC loan, you'll receive a subsidy of up to $10,000 to help pay for property repairs and improvements.  Eligible home buyers also receive a subsidy up to $2,500 to assist with down payment and/or closing costs.  Because these subsidies are paired with your NFC loan, you can do more than if you obtained a traditional loan elsewhere.  Your loan works harder for you at NFC.

The lending areas are shaded orange, green, and pink. These colors describe the level of revitalization services available from NFC in each of these areas.

Orange Service Areas: Borrowers in orange service areas typically have unlimited access to NFC lending services. There are no property condition requirements for homes located in these areas. Rehabilitation plans must first address issues included in the green service areas (see list below), and then reasonable requests for discretionary improvements may be accepted.   

Green Service Areas: In the green service areas, NFC will focus on properties with eligible repairs and projects as determined by NFC.

Qualifying green service area repairs include:

·         Update of aged or unsafe heating, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems

·         Roof repair or replacement

·         Foundation repair

·         Exterior siding repair or replacement and paint

·         Window and door repair or replacement (if in poor repair or for energy efficiency)

·         New Garage, garage repair or replacement

·         Energy efficiency (insulation, windows, mechanical upgrades)

·         Access/architectural barrier removal and wheelchair or mobility assistive device

·         Sidewalk and driveway repair or replacement

·         Functional landscaping (grading and retaining walls for water and erosion control, significant tree removal or trimming)

Green service area improvements must include the repair or replacement of a critical system or architectural component of a home. For NFC lending purposes, it may also refer to health and safety items such as access/architectural barrier removal for handicapped persons or sidewalk repair to prevent trip hazards, and to updates to increase energy efficiency. Typically, improvements such as kitchen and bath updates and room additions do not fall within the guidelines to qualify for loans in green service areas. These would be regarded as discretionary improvements unless current facilities are not functional. Typically, NFC does not finance discretionary improvements.  

Pink Service Area: Pink service areas are currently in neighborhoods defined as “stable” by the City of Des Moines Neighborhood Revitalization Program. Income-eligible homeowners can borrow from NFC to complete projects included under the green service area requirements (see list above). Home purchase loans are not available in these areas.

Orange areas are part of a Designated Neighborhood per the City of Des Moines Neighborhood Revitalization Program.  Green areas include parts of current or former designated neighborhoods per the City of Des Moines Neighborhood Revitalization Program or are low to moderate income areas as determined by HUD guidelines.  The Neighborhood Revitalization Program is described on the reverse side of this map.

Throughout all lending areas, NFC will reserve the right to deny loan approval for any reason NFC, in its sole discretion, deems reasonable, including denial of loan requests which are inconsistent with the neighborhood revitalization process.

If you have any question about property or project eligibility, please contact an NFC loan originator at 288-5626 (288-LOAN) or by e-mail for clarification:

          Karen Riccelli Ext. 211  kriccelli@neighborhoodfinance.org  
          Joni Norman Ext. 209  jnorman@neighborhoodfinance.org  

NFC lending areas include neighborhoods that participate in the City of Des Moines Neighborhood Revitalization Program.   These neighborhoods include: 

City of Des Moines — Recognized Neighborhood is a neighborhood officially recognized by the City Council.  The neighborhood must be represented by an organization with official by-laws, regular meetings, fair elections and ongoing communications with its residents. Recognized neighborhoods are given the opportunity to comment on issues concerning their neighborhoods to the City Council and other Boards and Commissions.  

Some of these neighborhoods are eligible for lending services provided by NFC.   Any part of a recognized neighborhood that is a low-and-moderate income area may be eligible.  These areas are included in the green service area on the Lending Area Map.  Persons do not need to be low-and-moderate income to apply. 

City of Des Moines — Designated Neighborhood is an existing recognized neighborhood that has applied to the City Council for designation.  The City Council selects a neighborhood to develop an Action Plan for neighborhood revitalization.  The City’s professional planning staff and neighborhood residents identify issues and goals in the Action Plan to revitalize the neighborhood.  

Designated Neighborhoods are eligible for NFC lending services.  The Lending Area Map identifies Designated Neighborhoods, and the level of lending service that is offered in each neighborhood.   These neighborhoods are provided orange service area, green service area, or pink service area services.  In the orange and green service areas, persons do not need to be low-and-moderate income to apply.       

City of Des Moines — Charter Neighborhood is a neighborhood that has successfully completed the Designated Neighborhood program by accomplishing most of the activities listed in its Action Plan.  Because of this, the City considers the neighborhood residents to be capable of continuing implementation activities with less staff support from the city.  Charter Neighborhoods continue to provide direction on neighborhood issues to the City Council and other Boards and Commissions. 

Those parts of Charter Neighborhoods that are in low-and-moderate income areas are eligible for NFC lending services.  Typically, these neighborhoods are in the green service area on the Lending Area Map; however, NFC has elected to continue to provide some Charter Neighborhoods orange service area services, to continue to stimulate revitalization in these areas.  Persons do not need to be low-and-moderate income to apply.