See programs you qualify for

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

Homebuyer Programs in Kenosha, WI (2026)

Population: 99,000 | Median home price: $285,000 | Est. closing costs: $5,500 - $8,500

Kenosha is Wisconsin's fourth-largest city, located on Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago, with a median home price of around $285,000. First-time buyers in Kenosha can access the HCRI Down Payment Grant offering up to $10,000 and the City of Kenosha HOME Down Payment Assistance providing a deferred second mortgage of up to 17% of the purchase price. The Kenosha County Homestead Opportunity Loan Program covers up to 50% of the down payment for homes outside city limits. At the state level, WHEDA's Capital Access DPA provides up to $7,500 as a deferred zero-interest loan, the Easy Close DPA offers up to 6% of the purchase price, and the Tax Advantage Mortgage Credit Certificate saves buyers up to $2,000 per year in federal taxes. By combining city, county, state, and federal programs, eligible Kenosha buyers could access substantial assistance toward homeownership.

City Programs in Kenosha

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Kenosha HOME Down Payment Assistance	Deferred Loan	Up to 17% of purchase price (deferred second mortgage)	Yes	View →
Kenosha HCRI Down Payment Grant	Grant	Up to $10,000	Yes	View →

City of Kenosha HOME Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to 17% of purchase price (deferred second mortgage)
First-time only:: Yes

Kenosha HCRI Down Payment Grant

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $10,000
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Kenosha County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Kenosha County Homestead Opportunity Loan Program	Deferred Loan	Up to 50% of down payment (maximum 10% of purchase price)	No	View →

Kenosha County Homestead Opportunity Loan Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to 50% of down payment (maximum 10% of purchase price)
First-time only:: No

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 of Kenosha Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable home with zero-interest mortgage	Yes	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 of Kenosha Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable home with zero-interest mortgage
First-time only:: Yes

Free eligibility check

17 programs available in Kenosha. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Kenosha programs require gross household income below 80% of the Kenosha County median income. WHEDA programs have separate county-based limits.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The HCRI Grant requires 8 hours of homebuyer education, and the HOME program requires HUD-certified counseling. Contact the Kenosha Housing Authority's certified counselor Cyndi Zarletti-Lee at (262) 697-4641 to enroll.

Step 3: Save for your required contribution. The HCRI Grant requires $500 to $1,000 of personal funds. The HOME program requires a minimum 3% down payment. The Homestead Opportunity Loan requires you to cover at least 50% of the down payment from your own funds.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a WHEDA-approved lender to explore WHEDA Advantage Conventional or FHA loans, which can be paired with state DPA programs. You'll need a fixed-rate mortgage covering at least 80% of the purchase price for the HOME program.

Step 5: Apply for down payment assistance. Submit your HCRI application with 30 days of income and asset verification to the Kenosha Housing Authority. For the HOME program, contact the City of Kenosha Community Development office.

Step 6: Find a home and get an inspection. The HCRI Grant requires a professional home inspection. Work with a real estate agent to find a home within Kenosha County.

Step 7: Close on your home. Your lender and the Kenosha Housing Authority will coordinate all DPA funds at closing. The HCRI Grant requires you to maintain ownership and primary residence for at least 5 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Kenosha buyers can stack multiple programs. The HCRI Down Payment Grant provides up to $10,000. The City of Kenosha HOME program offers a deferred second mortgage up to 17% of the purchase price plus closing cost assistance up to 3% of the purchase price. The Downpayment Plus Program from FHLBank Chicago adds up to $6,000 in matching grants. At the state level, WHEDA's Capital Access DPA provides up to $7,500 and the Easy Close DPA offers up to 6% of the purchase price. Combined, eligible buyers could access significant assistance.

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

The HCRI Grant and the City of Kenosha HOME program both require first-time buyer status. The Kenosha County Homestead Opportunity Loan Program does not require first-time buyer status and is available to low- and moderate-income renters. The Downpayment Plus Program is also open to repeat buyers. WHEDA programs generally require first-time buyer status unless you purchase in a targeted area.

What is the maximum home price I can pay?+

The City of Kenosha HOME program does not publish a specific purchase price limit but requires financing from a private lender covering at least 80% of the price. The Homestead Opportunity Loan caps assistance at 10% of the purchase price. WHEDA programs have county-specific purchase price limits. Contact a WHEDA-approved lender for current Kenosha County limits.

What homebuyer education is required?+

The HCRI Grant requires 8 hours of homebuyer education. The HOME program requires completion of a HUD-certified homebuyer counseling course. Contact Cyndi Zarletti-Lee, Certified Homeownership Counselor at the Kenosha Housing Authority, at (262) 697-4641 to get started with education requirements.

Are there programs for buying outside Kenosha city limits?+

Yes. The Kenosha County Homestead Opportunity Loan Program is specifically designed for properties within Kenosha County but outside the City of Kenosha. It provides zero-interest deferred loans covering up to 50% of the down payment (maximum 10% of purchase price). The HCRI Grant also covers all of Kenosha County. WHEDA state programs and the Downpayment Plus Program apply countywide as well.

What is the HOME program deferred second mortgage and how does repayment work?+

The City of Kenosha HOME Down Payment Assistance provides a deferred second mortgage of up to 17% of the purchase price at 0% interest with no monthly payments for the first 10 years. After the initial 10-year deferral period, the loan converts to a 3% interest installment loan with a 20-year repayment term. The city may also provide a separate closing cost assistance grant of up to 3% of the purchase price through the same HOME program.