Wisconsin Home Buying Programs

Wisconsin first-time home buyers have a leg up over buyers in some other states. Both home prices and home price inflation are well below national averages. Of course, saving for your down payment and getting a home loan can still be a challenge. But Wisconsin has loan programs to help.

Housing Resources Inc. lists several down payment assistance programs open to Milwaukee home buyers. Some are restricted to current residents of the city, but others may be open to anyone who wishes to buy there.

One of the biggest roadblocks on the path to buying a home is saving enough money for a down payment. Between rent, bills and other expenses, for some families, setting aside cash for your dream home can be tricky.

The Appleton Housing Authority runs a First-Time Homebuyer Program, helping any families moving to Outagamie and Calumet counties. Like most of these local programs, the financial assistance is given out to help cover off down payment and closing cost expenses for homebuyers who are low-income households.

The city offers homebuyer assistance programs to low- and moderate-income families that need the financial boost to help them buy their new home. Assistance comes in the form of down payment and closing costs help, and in some cases, no closing costs at all.

First-time homebuyer assistance programs and/or grants were researched by the team at FHA.com. Please note that all programs listed on this website may involve a second mortgage with payments that are forgiven, deferred, or subsidized in some manner until resale of the mortgaged property.

VA helps Servicemembers, Veterans, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of our mission to serve you, we provide a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.

Before you buy, be sure to read the VA Home Loan Buyer's Guide. This guide can help you under the homebuying process and how to make the most of your VA loan benefit. Download the Buyer's Guide here.

The median value of a home in Wisconsin is about $192,000 and current appreciation rate is about 6% per year. The average rent is about $990 per month and you can buy a $192,000 home using HomeReady 3% Down Payment Program and your payment would be approximately $1,480* per month. Try our rent versus own calculator and you may find out buying a home is better than renting when you factor in home appreciation and paydown of principal on every loan payment.

Habitat provides you with the coaching, education and support to be successful in your home buying journey. We can help you buy a home you love with a mortgage you can afford. Your options may include buying a home built or rehabbed by Habitat, or working with a realtor to buy a home on the open market.

Through Grow Solar Central Wisconsin, home and business owners throughout Marathon County, Lincoln County, Portage County, Waushara County and Wood County learned about solar and pooled their buying power to secure significant discounts that made installing solar more affordable.

Grow Solar Central Wisconsin is a grassroots residential and commercial group purchasing program for solar. Offered by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association , Portage County, City of Stevens Point, CAP Services, City of Wausau, UW-Stevens Point and local partners, homeowners and commercial property owners throughout Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, Waushara, Waupaca and Wood Counties may participate in this program to help pool their buying power to secure significant discounts that make installing solar more affordable.

CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) is a Federal program that grants money to states and localities to provide for community development needs. In many locations across the Country CDBG grant money is offered as an assistance program for home buying down payment and closing costs. In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin CDBG is offered but availability of CDBG grants for home buyer assistance may depend on locality, check to verify. Local program links: Milwaukee , Waukesha , Appleton , Madison , Fond du Lac , Racine , Wausau , Eau Claire , Columbia , Neenah .

The Home Ownership Division is committed to providing services to Ho-Chunk Nation Members while being mindful of Ho-Chunk traditions and culture. The Home Ownership Division will provide home-buyer education and sustainable housing programs that assist Ho-Chunk Nation Members reach their personal goal of home ownership.

All programs above are backed by an agency of the U.S. government, meaning they insure the lender against losses should the home go into default or foreclosure. This helps lenders like us provide more favorable terms and lower interest rates to borrowers and creates more home ownership opportunities for people throughout the state of Wisconsin as well as across the U.S. 781b155fdc