Home Buyers Grants
Down Payment & Closing Cost Grants
Upon your Homeownership Specialists’ assessment, consideration for a down payment/closing cost grant is initially determined. In order to be eligible for these grants, you must meet income and other guidelines. Based on funding availability, eligibility and an accepted offer to purchase, HRI Specialists complete grant applications to reserve down payment and closing cost funds on your behalf.
Milwaukee Home Down Payment Program
This assistance provided by the City of Milwaukee offers forgivable grants of $5,000 for a purchase in the City of Milwaukee or $7,000 if you purchase in the Community Development Block Grant Area in the City of Milwaukee. These funds are for down payment and closing costs. You must be a current City of Milwaukee resident; meet income guidelines; owner occupy the property for a minimum of 5 years; and receive 8 hours of counseling from an eligible HUD approved homebuyer counseling agency. Additional requirements apply.
Havenwoods Employer Assisted Housing Program
The program provides $3,000 of down payment assistance for full time employees of Havenwoods who choose to buy in Havenwoods. Employees that choose to purchase in the City of Milwaukee will receive $1,500 in down payment assistance. Participants of the program must remain with their current employer for three years and remain in their purchased home for three years.
Employers that are currently participating include HellermannTyton, Fredman Bag Co., Hentzen Coatings, and TJM Innovations. HRI is the designated homebuyer education provider for the program
Housing Cost Reduction Initiative (HCRI)
This assistance (up to $8,000) is made possible through funding received from the State of Wisconsin-Division of Housing. These grant funds are forgivable over the initial three-year period of owner-occupancy for homes purchased in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Waukesha, Washington or Ozaukee Counties. Income guidelines apply and are based on county and household size.
The WORTH CDA grant
The WORTH Down Payment Assistance Program offers grants up to $8,000 to support first-time home buyers in achieving homeownership. To apply for the program:
- You must complete 8 hours in Home Buyer Counseling with a HUD Certified Home Buyer Counseling Agencies (HBCA’s) based in Milwaukee
- You must be a first-time home buyer purchasing a home in Milwaukee County (e.g. not owned a home within the last 3 years) and purchasing a single-family home, duplex, or condo
- There are separate funds available for families living at or below 60% of HUD Area Median Income (AMI) and 100% AMI.
See chart in the flyer below for income eligibility.
Wintrust Down Payment Assistance
Wintrust is offering $2,000 in down payment assistance if you are purchasing a home in Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Dane, Rock, Green, Jefferson, Lafayette or Walworth counties. You must meet income eligibility and other program guidelines
Contact HRI to get started at 414-461-6330
HOME Consortium Down Payment Assistance
The HOME Consortium home ownership assistance program helps families afford a home of their own by providing deferred loans. The DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE LOAN (DPA) program provides eligible home buyers with a forgivable loan of up to $5,000 to be used for down payment and/or closing costs. Funds are for buyers purchasing in Waukesha, Jefferson, Washington or Ozaukee counties.
Downpayment Plus®
The Downpayment Plus® Program provides up to $10,000 in grant assistance to homebuyers state-wide who meet income guidelines and other qualifying criteria. Funds are for down payment and closing costs and are forgivable over a five-year period of owner occupancy.
Movin’ Out AHP Down Payment Assistance
This program provides down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers with a permanent disability or who have a family member with a permanent disability. These funds can be used to purchase a home anywhere in Wisconsin. Contact
1-877-861-6746 or go to
movin-out.org for additional information.
Homeownership Opportunity Program (HOP)
Old National Bank offers this program in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. You can receive up to $8,000 to assist you with down payment and closing cost.
The PATH Program
Associated Bank is offering $4,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time and repeat homebuyers. Eligibility requirement apply.
For more information:
Chase Homebuyer Grant
Chase Bank is offering $2,500 or $5000 in assistance for those who qualify. Eligibility requirement apply. For more information,
Please keep in mind that you can work with only one counseling agency when applying for grant funds.