Housing (Homeownership) in Wisconsin

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1136: Relating to: housing discrimination.

This bill amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify and expand protections against housing discrimination based on various characteristics including sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital and family status, victim status of domestic abuse or stalking, lawful source of income, receipt of rental assistance, age, and ancestry. It explicitly extends state anti-discrimination laws to cover owner-occupied single-family residences, requiring local governments to assist in preventing discrimination in housing sales and rentals. The bill also defines key terms such as "rental or housing assistance" and "small landlord" to ensure consistent application of these protections across different housing situations.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Homeownership Landlords Renters

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 1169: Relating to: a first-time home buyer purchasing assistance fund and loan program and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new fund and loan program to help first-time home buyers in Wisconsin cover costs like down payments, closing costs, and mortgage insurance. The program is managed by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and provides interest-free loans up to $35,000 or 10 percent of the home's purchase price, whichever is less. Eligible borrowers must be first-time home buyers or those who lost their home to foreclosure, have household income at or below 100 percent of the area median income, complete a home buyer education course, and agree to live in the home as their primary residence. The loans are forgiven in installments over ten years if the borrower keeps the home as their primary residence, with larger forgiveness amounts at five and ten-year intervals. The bill also appropriates $150 million for the fund in the 2025-26 fiscal year and allows the authority to invest unused funds in safe, low-risk investments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Appropriations Procurement Homeownership Mortgages Property Development

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Aug 18, 2026

SB 1027: Relating to: residents’ right to purchase and regulations regarding a mobile or manufactured home community, low-interest loans and tax incentives for owners of mobile or manufactured home communities, and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 1027 gives mobile home residents the right to collectively purchase their community if 51% of adult residents approve, requiring owners to provide 60-day notice before selling or closing. The bill creates tax incentives for owners who sell to resident groups, homeowner associations, or nonprofits, and defines "maintenance costs" to exclude capital improvements. It also mandates annual inspections, evacuation plans for emergencies, and requires owners to notify residents of sales offers or foreclosure. These changes directly affect mobile home community owners and residents in Wisconsin, aiming to increase resident control and transparency.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Homeownership Mortgages

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 917: Relating to: a first-time home buyer purchasing assistance fund and loan program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 917 creates a $150 million First-Time Home Buyer Purchasing Assistance Fund to provide interest-free loans for eligible buyers. It directly affects first-time homebuyers who have never owned a home (or lost one to foreclosure), earn at or below 100% of local median income, complete homebuyer education, and occupy the home as their primary residence. Loans cover up to $35,000 or 10% of the home’s purchase price (whichever is lower) for down payments, closing costs, and other expenses, with 12.5% forgiveness after 2.5 years and full forgiveness after 10 years. Repayment is triggered if the home is sold, stops being the primary residence, or if the borrower violates loan terms. The program is administered by Wisconsin’s Housing and Economic Development Authority.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Appropriations Procurement Homeownership Mortgages Property Development

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 7, 2026

AB 916: Relating to: a home repair program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 916 creates a state-funded home repair program to address habitability issues and improve energy efficiency in affordable housing. It provides grants of up to $25,000 per unit to eligible homeowners (income ≤100% of area median income who own or occupy their homes) and interest-free loans of up to $25,000 to eligible landlords (owning ≤5 properties/15 units of affordable housing). The program prioritizes repairs for homes with health/safety hazards, energy efficiency upgrades, and accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities or young children. Properties must be between 10 and 40 years old to qualify, and funds are administered by the state authority or contracted counties/nonprofits with strict reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Appropriations Energy Efficiency Affordable Housing Homeownership Tenant Rights

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 476: Relating to: a workforce home loan program. (FE)

SB 476 modifies a state workforce home loan program to set maximum home purchase prices by county, based on annual data from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. It prohibits fees on these loans and requires qualified organizations (like approved lenders) to verify applicant eligibility using state-provided forms. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate income homebuyers seeking affordable mortgages through this program. Key changes include adding county-specific price limits to underwriting guidelines and requiring the state authority to distribute loan funds electronically. The bill is pending final passage after committee approval.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Mortgages

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 454: Relating to: a workforce home loan program. (FE)

AB 454 establishes a statewide "workforce home loan" revolving loan program to help low-to-moderate income workers purchase homes. It creates a new fund that will provide loans to first-time homebuyers whose household income is at or below 100% of the local area median income, with requirements including no prior residential property ownership in the past three years and meeting specific debt-to-income and credit score standards (minimum 580 FICO score for deferred payment options). The program uses repayments from existing loans to replenish the fund, allowing it to serve more borrowers over time. This directly affects eligible workforce households in housing markets across the state who qualify under the defined income and underwriting criteria.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Mortgages

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 180: Relating to: modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE)

SB 180 modifies Wisconsin's housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). It allows WHEDA to offer loans with interest rates at or below market rate minus 1% (or no interest) and requires newly constructed workforce or senior housing to remain affordable for 10 years after initial occupancy. For owner-occupied homes, it restricts resale prices to the original purchase price plus annual inflation (capped at 5% per year), with these rules recorded on property deeds and published online by WHEDA. The bill directly affects developers receiving WHEDA loans and future homeowners purchasing qualifying affordable housing units, applying to new loans starting January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Property Development

All housing bills