Mortgage Rate Relief

8eginning July 6, 2026, FHLB Des Moines member Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) with an active MPF® Traditional Master Commitment (MC) can access Mortgage Rate Relief funds on a first-come, first-served basis until program funding is exhausted or Sept. 30, 2026, whichever comes first.

Lower Interest Rate

Up to 1.5% Lower Interest Rate
Mortgage Rate Relief is designed to make homeownership attainable by permanently reducing the interest rate up to 1.5 percentage points* for qualified borrowers.

 Use existing MC

Use existing MPF Traditional MC
Separate Mortgage Rate Relief MC not required for 2026. 
Attestation Form

Income Attestation Form Required
All buyers are required to sign this form. It's best practice to have it signed prior to closing.

 Income Decision Tree

Updated Income Decision Tree
Effective tool to help analyze income for program eligibility. 
Purchase only

Purchase Transactions Only

Mortgage Rate Relief Product Guide		 Training

Watch 2026 Training Guide

Mortgage Rate Relief On-Demand Training

About Mortgage Rate Relief

About Mortgage Rate Reliefplay video

Qualifications Include: 

  • Borrowers’ income is at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) according to Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) Underserved Areas Data
  • Available for purchase transactions only, primary residence, 1-4 family dwellings
  • Can be used in conjunction with other eligible grants, including the FHLB Des Moines Down Payment products, which has separate requirements.
  • Mortgage Rate Relief is also available for loans that meet the MPF Traditional expanded eligibility guidelines that took effect April 27, 2026.
     

Contact your Mortgage Relationship Manager for more information if you are not currently selling into MPF Traditional.

*The Mortgage Rate Relief interest rate offered by FHLB Des Moines will be up to 1.5% below prevailing market rates at any given time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mortgage Rate Relief Product Features

Product Features
Benefits Below Market Interest Rate
Follows Agency Conforming Loan Amounts
No New Master Commitment (MC) Required with existing MPF Traditional MC
PFI Earns 2% Agent Fee
Can be used in conjunction with other down payment and closing cost programs
Structure Credit Enhanced: FHLBank and PFI Share Credit Risk
No Loan Level Price Adjustments
Delivery Commitments - Mandatory Only
Underwriting Occupancy: Owner-Occupied
Mortgage Rate Relief Income Attestation and Documentation Required

Tips for Calculating Mortgage Rate Relief Income Guidelines

Looking for support in calculating income eligibility? Follow these directions:

  • Sign into eMPF
  • Click on the HOME tab
  • Look at the QUICK LINKS section and the links that says, "FHFA 80% AMI amounts by county”

Mortgage Rate Relief AMI Decision Tree

Our Commitment to Affordable Homeownership

At least $7.2 million in Mortgage Rate Relief funding is available. To expand access to this additional funding opportunity, FHLB Des Moines has additionally increased the 2026 annual program volume cap, with maximum locks per PFI now set at $8 million. This increased limit includes all Mortgage Rate Relief funding your institution may have received earlier this year.

Delivery Commitments will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until program funding is exhausted or Sept. 30, 2026, whichever comes first.

Mortgage Rate Relief is supported through discretionary (voluntary) program funding, approved by the FHLB Des Moines Board of Directors. Learn More. 

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