Buying a home in Wisconsin

Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in Wisconsin.

Effective property tax rate

1.42%

Median tax $3,792 ÷ median value $266,500 (ACS 2020–2024)

Typical home value

$339,699

Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08

State transfer tax

0.3%

Usually paid by: seller. Wis. Stat. § 77.22 (transfer fee); § 59.43(2)(ag)1 (recording fee). Official source. Local taxes may add more.

Estimated buyer closing costs Estimate

$2,800–$4,600

On a $339,699 home: typical lender fees + title insurance + deed recording (TallyClose) + the buyer’s share of transfer/recording taxes. Excludes prepaids, escrow and local taxes.

At Wisconsin's effective rate of 1.42%, a typical $339,699 home would owe about $4,824/year ($402/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority

Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-10-15.