Are you contemplating the purchase of your first home in Wisconsin? Would you like a free gift of money to help you purchase that first home? Unfortunately, the state of Wisconsin does not currently provide free grant money for its residents who are first time home buyers and need help with the down payment and closing costs as some other states do. However, there is still Federal Grant money available as well as grants from private foundations. This is free money that shouldn’t be passed up! The grant awards can be in the thousands of dollars. It will be well worth your time to educate yourself about the grant programs that are available to residents of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) was created in 1972 by the Wisconsin Legislature as an independent authority, not a state agency. As a lender, WHEDA has over $3 billion in assets.
WHEDA works closely with lenders, developers, local government, nonprofits, community groups and others to implement its low-cost financing programs. They provide low-cost, fixed interest rate mortgages to low- and moderate-income individuals and families to purchase their first home. They also work with developers to finance affordable rental housing, and support economic development and agriculture through their small business guarantee programs.
Down payment assistance is a great resource to help home buyers get into a home sooner. Check out the unique down payment options with the WHEDA Advantage. Also see your local home buyer counseling agency to learn about other grant options that may be available. Remember, many down payment assistance grants are only available for a limited time.
Here is the contact information for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA):
WHEDA
201 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 700
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-266-7884
Fax: 608-267-1099
Toll Free: 1-800-334-6873
Federal First Time Home Buyer Grants
Even though there are no state grant programs, there are federal funds and grants available to the buyers in Wisconsin through the Homes and Communities program of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. On their website you’ll find complete grant information, application forms that can be printed on your home computer, description of available funds, as well as many other helpful tools.
Every potential home buyer should investigate what they have to offer. You can visit the website by going here: US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Also, there is a website that has a complete list of all grant programs available through the United States Federal Government: Grants.gov. You should plan to spend the required time investigating to determine how many individual grants you may qualify for. You can visit the website by going to Grants.gov and using the search tool to find additional opportunities for grants in Wisconsin.
Other Grants in Wisconsin
In addition to the grant programs described above, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides assistance and grants in every state. There are multiple grant programs designed specifically for people that meet certain requirements, such as grants for people with disabilities so they can continue to live independently at home. It is worth visiting HUD’s website to see what assistance is currently available. For your convenience, simply go to this website.
Here is the contact information for the HUD office in Wisconsin:
Milwaukee Field Office
310 West Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 1380
Milwaukee, WI 53203-2289
Phone: (414) 297-3214
Fax: (414) 935-6775
There are also these local programs:
Beaver Dam MSA Professional Services Housing Rehabilitation Program (HRP) (920) 887-4600
Clark County Down Payment and Closing Cost Loan (DPCC) (715) 267-7356
Dodge County MSA Professional Services Home Purchaser Program (HPP) (800) 552-6330
Douglas County Home Ownership Opportunity Program (HOOP) (715) 395-7335
Eau Claire Down payment Closing Cost Assistance Program (DCCAP) (715) 839-4943
Green Bay NHS Inc Down payment Assistance/Closing Cost Assistance Program (920) 448-3075
Green County MSA Professional Services Home Purchaser Program (HPP) (800) 552-6330
Janesville Down payment & Closing Cost Assistance Program (DCCAP) (608) 755-3067
Manitowoc County Hmong Mutual Assistance Association Housing Cost Reduction Initiative Program (HCRI) (920) 458-0808
Milwaukee County Suburban First Time Homebuyer’s Program (FTHP) (414) 278-4877
Milwaukee Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc Homeownership Consortium Reduction Initiative (HCRI) (414) 383-2272
Racine Homebuyer Down payment Assistance Program (HDAP) (262) 636-9151
Rock County Home Purchase Assistance (HPA) (608) 757-5587
Rusk County Homestead Opportunity Program (715) 532-9075
Sheboygan County Hmong Mutual Assistance Association Housing Cost Reduction Initiative Program (HCRI) (920) 458-0808
Sheboygan Down payment Assistance Program (DAP) (920) 458-0808
Waukesha County HBC Services Inc Grant Program (GRANT) (262) 650-3627
Wausau House Cost Initiative Program (715) 261-6682
West Allis Homebuyers Loan Program (414) 302-8430
Wisconsin Ho-Chunk Housing Authority Down Payment Assistance Grant Program (GRANT) (800) 236-2260
