Wisconsin • First-Time Homeowner programs

First-Time Homeowner grants in Wisconsin

Browse first-time homeowner grants available in Wisconsin, including statewide and local programs.

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5 active programs in Wisconsin

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Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program

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City of Milwaukee – Department of City DevelopmentWIFirst-Time HomeownerCity funded forgivable grant recorded as a second mortgage lien, providing 5000 or 7000 dollars in down payment and closing cost assistance that is forgiven after a minimum owner occupancy period when program requirements are met.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Milwaukee’s Home Down Payment Assistance Program provides $5,000–$7,000 in forgivable grant funds to help income-eligible first-time homebuyers cover down payment and closing costs on homes within the city, with larger awards available in designated CDBG neighborhoods.

Eligible for: Current City of Milwaukee residents who have not owned a home in the past three years, meet program income limits, purchase an owner-occupie…

Funding: Offers a forgivable grant of 5000 dollars for home purchases anywhere in the City of Milwaukee and 7000 dollars for purchases in designated CDBG neighborhoods, with funds applied toward down payment and closing costs and fully forgiven after a required owner occupancy period.Deadline: Rolling while city funds are available; program is marketed as an ongoing assistance option rather than a single-deadline grant cycle.RollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyerMilwaukee residentdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceforgivable grantaffordable homeownership

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WHEDA First Mortgage and Down Payment Assistance Programs – Available Programs

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Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development AuthorityWIFirst-Time HomeownerThirty year fixed rate WHEDA Advantage Conventional and FHA first mortgages paired with WHEDA Easy Close Advantage down payment assistance second mortgages sized between 1000 dollars and 6 percent of the purchase price on a 10 year fixed term at the same interest rate as the first mortgage, with the Capital Access DPA program temporarily paused due to funding limits.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

The “Available Programs” page details WHEDA’s Advantage Conventional and FHA first-mortgage options plus Easy Close Advantage down payment assistance, giving lenders and buyers a side-by-side view of how to structure affordable financing stacks.

Eligible for: Owner-occupant homebuyers using a WHEDA Advantage Conventional or FHA first mortgage on a property in Wisconsin; must meet WHEDA total house…

Funding: Easy Close Advantage provides down payment and closing cost help as a 10 year fixed rate second mortgage with loan amounts starting at 1000 dollars and up to 6 percent of the home purchase price when combined with a WHEDA Advantage first mortgage, while Capital Access DPA is currently paused until new funding is allocated.Deadline: Ongoing while WHEDA continues to purchase loans from participating lenders; Capital Access DPA is temporarily unavailable for the remainder of 2025, to be reopened when new funds are allocated.RollingStatewidehomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerrepeat homebuyerlow-income homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancesecond mortgageaffordable mortgage

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Home Buyers – Homeownership in Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development AuthorityWIFirst-Time HomeownerAffordable WHEDA Advantage 30 year fixed rate first mortgages that can be combined with WHEDA down payment assistance loans such as Easy Close Advantage and, when funded, Capital Access to cover up to roughly 6 percent of the purchase price as a second mortgage and reduce upfront cash requirements.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

WHEDA’s “Home Buyers” hub is the central entry point for Wisconsin first-time and repeat homebuyers to learn about WHEDA Advantage mortgages, down payment assistance, and how to connect with certified lenders.

Eligible for: Homebuyers purchasing an owner-occupied property in Wisconsin through a WHEDA-approved lender; must meet WHEDA total household compliance in…

Funding: Explains that WHEDA Advantage mortgages may be paired with WHEDA down payment assistance products, including Easy Close Advantage second mortgages sized up to about 6 percent of the purchase price, often allowing low down payment or near zero down financing when combined with the first mortgage.Deadline: Rolling; WHEDA homebuyer programs operate year-round statewide while funding, income limits, and lender capacity remain in place.RollingStatewidehomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerrepeat homebuyerlow-income homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceaffordable mortgagehomebuyer education

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Down Payment Assistance for First Time Homebuyers – Home-Buy the American Dream (HBAD)

Open

City of Madison – Community Development DivisionWIFirst-Time HomeownerZero percent interest deferred payment shared appreciation loan of up to 35000 dollars that covers down payment and closing costs for eligible buyers in the City of Madison, with repayment and a share of future appreciation due when the home is sold, refinanced or otherwise transferred.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Madison’s Home-Buy the American Dream (HBAD) program offers up to $35,000 in 0% shared-appreciation assistance to help first-time buyers cover down payment and closing costs on homes within city limits, paired with mandatory education and property quality inspections.

Eligible for: Low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers purchasing a single-family home, condominium, or one-half duplex in the City of Madison; must …

Funding: Provides up to 35000 dollars in 0 percent interest shared appreciation assistance to cover down payment and closing costs on eligible homes within Madison city limits, structured as a deferred loan with no monthly payments but repayment of principal plus a share of appreciation when the property is sold or refinanced.Deadline: Rolling; HBAD is offered on an ongoing basis, with program documents updated as recently as May 27, 2025 and files processed in roughly 20 business days while funds remain available.RollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyerMadison residentdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceshared appreciation loanaffordable homeownershiphomebuyer educationproperty inspection

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1st Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Program – City of La Crosse

Temporarily Paused

City of La Crosse – Community Development and HousingWIFirst-Time HomeownerForgivable down payment assistance grant recorded as a lien that covers 10 to 20 percent of the purchase price up to a maximum of 25000 dollars, with the grant forgiven after a required affordability and owner occupancy period under HUD guidelines.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

La Crosse’s 1st Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Program offers up to $25,000 in grant-style down payment help as a percentage of the purchase price, targeted to first-time buyers earning up to 120% of County Median Income, with stronger benefits for lower-income tiers.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers (per HUD’s definition) purchasing a home within the City of La Crosse; must have household income at or below 120% of …

Funding: Offers a grant style down payment assistance benefit equal to 20 percent of the purchase price for households at or below 80 percent CMI, 15 percent for 81 to 100 percent CMI and 10 percent for 101 to 120 percent CMI, capped at 25000 dollars, with funds used toward down payment and closing costs on qualifying La Crosse homes.Deadline: The page notes that as of 11/06/2024 the City is not taking applications, but under normal operation assistance is offered on a rolling basis while funding is available and buyers close within 90 days of conditional approval.RollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyerLa Crosse residentdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancegrantaffordable mortgagehomebuyer education

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