The WHEDA programs, with the figures that are actually current
Program and regulatory figures verified October 4, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Four WHEDA products matter to a buyer: two first mortgages and two down payment assistance seconds. The seconds only exist behind the firsts.
Which WHEDA first mortgage do I need?
Down payment assistance is a second mortgage, so there has to be a WHEDA Advantage first underneath it. There are two, and the one you use is driven by credit and by whether you are buying or refinancing.
| Program | Minimum score | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHEDA Advantage Conventional | 620 | 30-year fixed | Purchase or WHEDA-to-WHEDA refinance |
| WHEDA Advantage FHA | 640 | 30-year fixed | Purchase only; 3.5% minimum borrower investment, which DPA may satisfy |
Easy Close DPA
The statewide workhorse. Minimum $1,000, maximum 6% of the lesser of the purchase price or the appraised value, on both the conventional and FHA Advantage programs. It is a second mortgage fully amortized over ten years at the same rate as the first, so it carries a monthly payment, and WHEDA counts that payment in the debt ratio.
No property restriction. The income and purchase price limits are the same ones used for the WHEDA Advantage first mortgage, so clearing the first mortgage limits generally clears Easy Close too. What the payment means in practice.
Capital Access Advantage DPA
The deferred option, and the narrower one. A flat $7,500 at zero interest, with a term matching the first mortgage and nothing due until the first mortgage is paid in full or refinanced. It is purchase only and may be applied to down payment, closing costs and mortgage insurance premiums.
Two restrictions decide most files. The property must be in a high housing needs area, and the income limits are a separate, materially lower table published by household size. Only a $30 recording fee may be charged, and it must remain under 1% of the loan amount. Capital Access loans close in WHEDA's name and are not assumable.
Funds are limited, available first come, and reserved at the time of rate lock. Confirm availability before planning around it rather than assuming it.
What rules apply to both?
- Must sit in second lien position behind the WHEDA first mortgage.
- Maximum combined loan to value, including an existing community second, is 105%.
- WHEDA assistance is not the borrower's own funds toward any required minimum contribution.
- They cannot be used together.
What else does WHEDA offer?
Two products that are not down payment assistance but come up often. The Home Improvement Loan Program lends $10,000 to $50,000 on a 15-year fixed term with up to a $500 closing cost credit, for existing homeowners. Advantage Conventional HomeStyle Renovation combines purchase and renovation financing on the first mortgage.
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance does WHEDA offer in Wisconsin?
Two second-mortgage programs. Easy Close DPA provides $1,000 minimum up to 6% of the lesser of purchase price or appraised value, amortized over ten years. Capital Access Advantage DPA provides a flat $7,500, deferred at zero interest. Both require a WHEDA Advantage first mortgage and cannot be combined.What credit score does WHEDA require?
620 for WHEDA Advantage Conventional and 640 for WHEDA Advantage FHA. Those are first-mortgage minimums; the down payment assistance seconds ride behind whichever first mortgage the borrower uses.Can WHEDA down payment assistance cover my minimum down payment on FHA?
The FHA Advantage program requires a 3.5% minimum borrower investment and down payment assistance may satisfy it. However, WHEDA's underwriting guide states that WHEDA DPA funds are not considered the borrower's own funds toward any required minimum borrower contribution, so the structure matters and should be confirmed on your file.What is the maximum combined loan to value with WHEDA assistance?
105%, including an existing community second. Both Easy Close and Capital Access must sit in second lien position behind the WHEDA first mortgage, and the first mortgage amount may be reduced to keep the combined loan to value inside that limit.Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content about financing, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. WHEDA program terms, income limits and purchase price limits are set by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and change; figures here carry the date we verified them against WHEDA's published documents. Easy Close down payment assistance is an amortizing second mortgage with a monthly payment, not a grant. Capital Access is a deferred second mortgage repayable when the first mortgage is paid off or refinanced. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualification.