Exterior Repair Loan

Please note: Thank you for your interest in our Front Porch Exterior Repair Loan Program. Due to the overwhelming response, funds are being committed faster than expected and are anticipated to be fully allocated by the end of October 2025 or earlier. This is only for Front Porch households above 80% AMI.

We encourage anyone interested to apply as soon as possible. Call our office for more details.

Des Moines: 515-246-0010     Cedar Rapids: 319-777-7127

 

*Due to limited funding, Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC) will stop accepting new applications for the Front Porch Exterior Repair Program from households earning above 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) once the allocated funds are depleted or by December 15th, 2025 - whichever comes first. For more information, please click here!*

 

Loans through NFC’s Front Porch Program are available to homeowners in NFC lending areas seeking repairs to the exterior of their homes.

Click here for information on how the Exterior Repair Loan Program can work with Des Moines Block Challenge Grant Program. Click here for information on how the Exterior Repair Loan Program can work with the Invest DSM Block Challenge Grant Program. Loans through NFC's Exterior Repair Loan Program are available to homeowners in NFC lending areas seeking repairs to the exterior of their homes.

Para obtener información sobre el Block Challenge Grant en español, haga clic aquí.

Check out these low interest rates!

2% for borrowers with a total household income less than 80% of the area median income.

4% for borrowers at or above 80% of the area median income. (Please see note at the top of this page for information on limited funding for this portion of the program.)

There is no maximum income. Link to household income chart.

The APR for a 2% loan is 2.574%. The APR for a 4% loan is 4.596%. The APR is based on the maximum loan term of 10 years, fully amortizing, and a loan amount of $30,000.

Qualifications:
Home must be located in a NFC lending area.
The home must be an owner-occupied one or two unit property.
Exterior repairs only.  Such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Roof repair or replacement
• Foundation repair
• Exterior siding repair or replacement and paint
• Window and door repair or replacement 
• New garage, garage repair or replacement (maximum 2 car garage, 24' X 24')
• 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)
  
  

Here is a link to a short video with information eligible repairs for the Exterior Repair Loan Program. You will leave the NFC website.

The Exterior Repair Loan generally has a maximum loan amount of $30,000 plus the forgivable loan, but in some instances the loan amount may be increased. The forgivable loan is up to $10,000 in Polk County and $15,000 in Cedar Rapids for home improvements to be used with NFC repayable financing.  The portion of the renovation project that will be forgiven will be 25%, 33% or 50%, up to $10,000, depending on the household income.

The Exterior Repair Loan Program will consider borrowers with lower credit scores than NFC is able to approve through the NFC Advantage loan programs. In some situations, NFC will consider the income of household members that are not on the loan application. Borrowers will need to complete an application and meet the qualifications specific to the Exterior Repair Loan Program.

For borrowers that meet the qualifications, the Exterior Repair Program may be combined with other NFC loan products such as the NFC Advantage purchase, refinance and home improvement loans. 

Our program is intended to improve neighborhoods and increase owner occupied home ownership; therefore, you must occupy the property. Borrowers should have owned the home for 1-year before receiving NFC financing. This may be waived if there are emergency repairs that need to be made during the first year. Please contact our Loan Originators for details.

Find more information on our Purchase Loans, Home Improvement Loans and Refinance Loans.

This loan program supports the Capital Crossroads goal of meeting the revitalization needs of Des Moines core neighborhoods. This program was designed to overcome barriers to financing for homeowners seeking home improvement funding.