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Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program

City of Milwaukee Department of City Development / Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC) · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Assistance

$5,000–$7,000

The maximum the program publishes — not an offer

Price cap

$290,000

Highest purchase price the program allows

Repayment

Forgivable

Forgiven after 5 years

What is Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program?

Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, administered by City of Milwaukee Department of City Development / Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC).

  • Forgivable grants of up to $7,000 to help current City of Milwaukee residents purchase a home in the city. Grants of up to $5,000 are available for a purchase anywhere in the City of Milwaukee, and up to $7,000 for a purchase within the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Area boundary. Funds may be used for down payment and closing costs.
  • Forgivable grant of $5,000 (citywide) or $7,000 (within CDBG Area) toward down payment and closing costs.

How much assistance does it provide?

Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program offers between $5,000 and $7,000 in assistance.

  • Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — City of Milwaukee Department of City Development / Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC) determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program is forgiven after 5 years, so a buyer who stays that long does not repay it.

  • Repayment is triggered by Failure to owner-occupy for the minimum 5-year period.
  • The assistance is recorded in second position.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program 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
  • Buyer must be a current City of Milwaukee resident. Buyer must contribute a minimum of $1,000 of their own funds. Maximum property purchase price may not exceed $290,000. Buyer must obtain a third-party home inspection. Loan origination/funding fees must not exceed 2% of the loan amount. First-mortgage interest rate must not be more than 2% above the Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year fixed average. No cash out allowed. Owner must occupy for a minimum of 5 years (described as a forgivable grant). The $7,000 tier requires the property to be within the City's CDBG Area (verify via My Milwaukee Home).

The program excludes

  • Purchases above the $290,000 price cap

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?

Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program sets its income limit as follows: Maximum total household income by family size: 1=$60,700; 2=$69,400; 3=$78,050; 4=$86,700; 5=$93,650; 6=$100,600; 7=$107,550; 8=$114,450.

  • Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program caps the purchase price at $290,000.

Where does it apply?

Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program serves buyers purchasing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • The program gives priority to designated target areas, so the address matters as well as the county.

How do you apply?

Applications for Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program go through City of Milwaukee Department of City Development / Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC), which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program before funds are reserved.

  2. Contact City of Milwaukee Department of City Development / Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC) 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.

Learn this program

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Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program, explained

A short, free course on Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance Program: what it is, who it is for, how it is forgiven, where it applies and how to apply. Based on program data from July 2026. About ten minutes.

5 modules · About 10 minutes

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