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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Racine, WI (2026)
Racine is a mid-sized city on the shores of Lake Michigan in southeastern Wisconsin, about 30 miles south of Milwaukee. With a median home price around $205,000, Racine offers relatively affordable homeownership compared to the broader metro area. Buyers here can tap into the City of Racine TID 22 New Homeowner Assistance Program, which provides up to $10,000 as a forgivable loan for down payment and closing costs. At the state level, WHEDA Easy Close DPA offers up to 6% of the purchase price, and the WHEDA Capital Access DPA provides up to $7,500. Additional support is available through the Downpayment Plus Program (up to $6,000 grant), the WORTH Down Payment Assistance Program (up to $8,000 grant), and Habitat for Humanity of Racine and Kenosha Counties. By combining city, state, and federal programs, Racine buyers can potentially stack $20,000 or more in total assistance.
City Programs in Racine
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Racine Employee Homebuyer Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 | No | View → |
| City of Racine TID 22 New Homeowner Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
County Programs in Racine County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORTH Down Payment Assistance Program | Grant | Up to $8,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $8,000
- 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 of Racine & Kenosha Counties Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable new-construction home with zero-interest mortgage | No | View → |
| NACA Purchase Program | Zero-Interest Loan | No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, below-market fixed interest rate | 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 new-construction home with zero-interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, below-market fixed interest rate
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. Most programs require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income, and some require first-time buyer status. WHEDA income limits for Racine County are $104,800 for 1-2 person households and $120,520 for 3+ person households.
Complete homebuyer education. Contact Housing Resources Inc at their Racine/Kenosha office at 262-994-1847 to enroll in a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. This is required for most assistance programs.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a WHEDA-approved lender to determine your purchasing power and eligibility for WHEDA first mortgage programs and DPA options like Easy Close (up to 6% of purchase price) and Capital Access (up to $7,500).
Explore local assistance programs. Contact the City of Racine Department of City Development at (262) 636-9197 to learn about the TID 22 New Homeowner Assistance Program (up to $10,000 forgivable loan). Also ask Housing Resources Inc about the WORTH grant (up to $8,000) and the Downpayment Plus grant (up to $6,000).
Find a home within program limits. The WHEDA purchase price limit for Racine County is $544,232 for a single-family home. If applying for the TID 22 program, confirm the property is within the TID 22 boundaries.
Submit your applications and close. Your lender and housing counselor will help you layer multiple programs together. Allow 30-60 days for program processing in addition to your standard mortgage timeline.