See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 9, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Janesville, WI (2026)

Population: 66,000 | Median home price: $280,000 | Est. closing costs: $5,500 - $8,500

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 →

City of Janesville Home Buyer Assistance Program

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 →

Rock County Down Payment Assistance Program

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	$7,500 (0% interest, deferred second mortgage)	No	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 →

WHEDA Advantage Conventional Loan

Type:: Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:: Low down payment first mortgage (as low as 3% down)
First-time only:: Yes

WHEDA Advantage FHA Loan

Type:: Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:: Low down payment first mortgage (3.5% down)
First-time only:: Yes

WHEDA Capital Access DPA

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: $7,500 (0% interest, deferred second mortgage)
First-time only:: No

WHEDA Easy Close DPA

Type:: Repayable Loan
Amount:: Up to 6% of purchase price
First-time only:: Yes

WHEDA Tax Advantage (Mortgage Credit Certificate)

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 →
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 →

FHA Loans

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

Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)

Type:: Government Property Sale Program
Amount:: 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:: Yes

Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)

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

HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)

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

HUD $100 Down Program

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

USDA Rural Development Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:: No

VA Loans

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 →

Downpayment Plus Program (FHLBank Chicago)

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $6,000 (3:1 match of buyer contribution, max $6,000)
First-time only:: No

Habitat for Humanity WJR Rock County Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgage with 0% interest (home sold at no profit)
First-time only:: No

Free eligibility check

16 programs available in Janesville. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: 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.

Step 2: 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.

Step 3: 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.

Step 4: 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.

Step 5: Find a home within Janesville city limits. The property must be owner-occupied. WHEDA purchase price limits apply for state-level programs.

Step 6: Submit your applications. Your lender and NeighborWorks Blackhawk Region counselor will help coordinate paperwork for multiple programs. Allow 30-60 days for processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Janesville?+

Janesville buyers have access to one of the strongest local assistance packages in Wisconsin. The City of Janesville Home Buyer Assistance Program offers up to $15,000 as a forgivable loan, the Rock County Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $5,000, and the Downpayment Plus Program from FHLBank Chicago offers up to $6,000. At the state level, WHEDA Capital Access DPA provides up to $7,500 and WHEDA Easy Close DPA offers up to 6% of the purchase price. Eligible buyers who qualify for multiple programs could stack over $28,000 in assistance.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+

The City of Janesville program and Rock County program both require first-time buyer status. However, Habitat for Humanity WJR does not require first-time buyer status, and some WHEDA products may waive the requirement in targeted areas.

What is the maximum home price I can pay?+

WHEDA sets maximum purchase price limits that vary by county and property type. The City of Janesville and Rock County programs do not publish specific purchase price limits but require the purchase to be reasonable for buyers at or below 80% of area median income.

What homebuyer education is required?+

Both the City of Janesville and Rock County programs require completion of a HUD-certified homebuyer counseling program or Home Buyer Workshop. NeighborWorks Blackhawk Region provides this locally at Hedberg Library in Janesville. Call (608) 362-9051 ext. 20 to register.

How does the City of Janesville loan forgiveness work?+

The City of Janesville Home Buyer Assistance Program provides a 0% interest, deferred-payment loan of up to $15,000 for down payment and closing costs. The loan is fully forgiven after five years of continued owner-occupancy. If you sell or move out before five years, you must repay the remaining balance.