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Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance

Couleecap, Inc. · Westby, Wisconsin

Last verified
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Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

What is Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance?

Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance is down payment assistance for homebuyers in Westby, Wisconsin, administered by Couleecap, Inc.

  • Couleecap offers financial support for eligible first-time homebuyers to assist with down payment and closing costs across Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon counties. Applicants work one-on-one with a HUD-certified housing counselor and must complete Couleecap homebuyer education. Households must be at or below 80% of County Median Income and qualify for a conventional mortgage. Supported by the State of Wisconsin DOA, La Crosse County, City of La Crosse, FHLBank Chicago, WHEDA, and USDA Rural Development.
  • Down payment assistance.
  • Closing cost assistance.
  • One-on-one HUD-certified housing counseling.
  • Live online homebuyer education course.
  • USDA Single Family Housing Direct Loan packaging available.
  • Funding comes from State of Wisconsin DOA, La Crosse County, City of La Crosse, FHLBank Chicago, WHEDA, USDA Rural Development, private partners.

Do you have to pay it back?

Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance is down payment assistance and is repaid under the terms set by Couleecap, Inc..

  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through Couleecap live online Homebuyer Education Course (8 hours)
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-12): pending review. Borrower must qualify for a conventional loan through a reputable lender and complete 8 hours of homebuyer education. Application does not guarantee assistance. Couleecap also runs a separate Coulee Community Land Trust program (distinct). GAPS (not published): assistance amount/min/max, assistance structure (grant vs forgivable/deferred), interest rate, forgiveness/recapture, lien position, min credit score, max DTI, max purchase price, min contribution.

The program excludes

  • Households above 80% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • At or below 80% of County Median Income (Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon counties).
  • The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s.
  • Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

Where does it apply?

Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance serves buyers purchasing in Westby, Wisconsin.

How do you apply?

Applications for Couleecap First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance go through Couleecap, Inc., which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through Couleecap live online Homebuyer Education Course (8 hours).

  2. Contact Couleecap, Inc. to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved with the provider and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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