Forty new affordable houses are coming soon to Council Bluffs as part of a major housing initiative in the East Manawa neighborhood. The City of Council Bluffs, in partnership with Turn the Paige Investments, is leading the effort to bring homeownership opportunities to families with moderate incomes.
The East Manawa development is part of a broader effort to expand housing options in Council Bluffs. In 2022, the city invested $2 million from its American Rescue Plan Act allocation to purchase 93 acres in East Manawa for a mixed-income housing development. Building on this momentum, the Iowa West Foundation committed $4 million in 2024 to support the city’s housing development program, which aims to add 1,300 new residential units over the next decade.
The 40 new houses will be priced at $175,000, with buyers eligible for $35,000 in down payment assistance. Each house will feature two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a one-car garage, and a built-in tornado shelter.
Construction is set to being this summer, but anyone interested in the program is encouraged to apply now.
To qualify, buyers must have a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income, a credit score above 640 and the ability to secure a mortgage without a co-signer. Buyers must also agree to live in the home for at least five years and complete homebuyer education through Family Housing Advisory Services.
For the first four months, priority will be given to households impacted by the 2019 flood. That does not necessarily mean a buyer lost his or her home. It can include things like road closures or other disruptions.
