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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Janesville, WI (2026)
Janesville is a city of about 66,000 residents in south-central Wisconsin along the Rock River in Rock County, with a median home price around $280,000. Janesville stands out for offering one of the most generous city-level homebuyer programs in the state: the City of Janesville Home Buyer Assistance Program provides forgivable loans up to $15,000 for down payment and closing costs, fully forgiven after five years. Rock County also offers up to $5,000 in forgivable down payment assistance for buyers in the county. The Downpayment Plus Program from FHLBank Chicago adds up to $6,000 in forgivable grant assistance. At the state level, WHEDA offers the Capital Access DPA (up to $7,500) and Easy Close DPA (up to 6% of purchase price). By stacking the city, county, and state programs, eligible Janesville buyers could receive over $28,000 in combined assistance toward their home purchase.
City Programs in Janesville
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Janesville Home Buyer Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
County Programs in Rock County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $5,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $5,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Wisconsin
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHEDA Advantage Conventional Loan | Government-Insured Mortgage | Low down payment first mortgage (as low as 3% down) | Yes | View → |
| WHEDA Advantage FHA Loan | Government-Insured Mortgage | Low down payment first mortgage (3.5% down) | Yes | View → |
| WHEDA Capital Access DPA | Deferred Loan | Up to $7,500 (between $3,050 and 3% of purchase price) | Yes | View → |
| WHEDA Easy Close DPA | Repayable Loan | Up to 6% of purchase price | Yes | View → |
| WHEDA Tax Advantage (Mortgage Credit Certificate) | Tax Credit | Up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Low down payment first mortgage (as low as 3% down)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Low down payment first mortgage (3.5% down)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500 (between $3,050 and 3% of purchase price)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 6% of purchase price
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- Up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits
- First-time only:
- Yes
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downpayment Plus Program (FHLBank Chicago) | Grant | Up to $6,000 (3:1 match of buyer contribution, max $6,000) | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity WJR Rock County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with 0% interest (home sold at no profit) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $6,000 (3:1 match of buyer contribution, max $6,000)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with 0% interest (home sold at no profit)
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The City of Janesville program requires household income at or below 80% of Rock County median income. WHEDA state programs have separate, often higher, income limits.
Complete homebuyer education. NeighborWorks Blackhawk Region is the local HUD-approved counseling agency. Call (608) 362-9051 ext. 20 to register for their homebuyer education workshop, held at Hedberg Library at 316 S. Main Street in Janesville.
Contact Ana Boden at City of Janesville Housing Services at (608) 373-3441 to learn about the Home Buyer Assistance Program and confirm current funding availability.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a WHEDA-approved lender to explore the WHEDA Advantage loan products and Capital Access or Easy Close DPA options. Ask your lender about the Downpayment Plus Program from FHLBank Chicago as well.
Find a home within Janesville city limits. The property must be owner-occupied. WHEDA purchase price limits apply for state-level programs.
Submit your applications. Your lender and NeighborWorks Blackhawk Region counselor will help coordinate paperwork for multiple programs. Allow 30-60 days for processing.