Wyoming offers up to $15,000 in WCDA down payment assistance, plus why its severance-tax funding model keeps property tax bills low regardless of home value.

Updated: July 2026 | Source: WyomingCDA.com (WCDA) · Wyoming Dept. of Revenue · FHFA · HUD · Freddie Mac PMMS

Wyoming Home Loans 2026 — Complete Guide

From 3.5% down FHA to $15,000 in state down payment assistance — here is what home buyers in Wyoming can access in 2026.

Wyoming has no state income tax and some of the lowest property tax in the country, funded almost entirely by taxes on coal, oil, gas, and uranium rather than homeowners. This guide covers loan limits, current rates, that funding model, and the WCDA programs available to general buyers this year.

$338,888

WY typical home value (2026)

6.55%

Avg. 30-yr conventional rate

Up to $15,000

WCDA Home$tretch assistance

$541K–$1.25M

2026 FHA limits by county

The number people miss: A $2 million home in Jackson Hole (Teton County) carries an effective property tax rate of only about 0.49% — roughly $9,800 a year — compared to $25,000 to $40,000 or more for a similarly valued home in New Jersey or Illinois. Wyoming funds government almost entirely through severance taxes on mineral extraction, not homeowners, regardless of how expensive the home is.

Wyoming Down Payment Assistance — WCDA Programs

The Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) offers down payment and closing cost assistance through Home$tretch, paired with a WCDA first mortgage.

WCDA Down Payment Program

Home$tretchUp to $15,000, 0% interest, deferred

RepaymentDue at sale, refinance, payoff, or after 30 years

Minimum borrower contribution$1,500 (may be a gift)

Open to repeat buyers too: Home$tretch does not require first-time buyer status — both first-time and repeat buyers can apply, provided they meet WCDA's credit score (620 minimum) and county-specific income limits. It's structured as a deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment, not a forgivable grant, so plan to repay it eventually.

Welcome Home Wyoming is a separate option: WCDA also offers Welcome Home Wyoming, a statewide program pairing a 30-year fixed-rate loan with its own down payment or closing cost assistance. Ask a WCDA-participating lender which of the two — Home$tretch or Welcome Home Wyoming — fits your specific loan type and situation better.

Eligibility & Income Limits

WCDA programs require homebuyer education, a minimum 620 credit score, and household income under limits that vary meaningfully by county — for example, a family of three in Laramie County may qualify with income under roughly $100,000.

Confirm your exact county limit and current program terms at WyomingCDA.com before applying.

Current Rates

Product	Rate	Source
30-yr Conventional	6.55%	Freddie Mac PMMS, week of July 16, 2026
15-yr Fixed	5.93%	Freddie Mac PMMS, week of July 16, 2026
WCDA first mortgage	Below market	Confirm current rate with a WCDA-participating lender

2026 Loan Limits by County

Teton County (Jackson Hole) sits at the full national FHA and conforming ceiling, driven by some of the highest home values in the country. Uinta County is slightly elevated, and the rest of Wyoming's 23 counties use the standard floor.

Area	FHA Limit	Conforming (Conventional) Limit
Most counties	$541,287	$832,750
Uinta County	$579,600	$832,750
Teton County	$1,249,125	$1,249,125

Verify your exact county's limit at HUD.gov before house-hunting.

Property Tax in Wyoming

What Buyers Should Budget For

Statewide average effective rate~0.55%–0.61% (among the lowest in the US)

Teton County (Jackson Hole)~0.49% despite $1M+ median values

Primary state funding sourceSeverance taxes on mineral extraction

State income taxNone (constitutional)

Wyoming's property tax is genuinely among the lowest in the country, and unlike most low-tax states, it isn't offset by a sales or income tax burden elsewhere — Wyoming has no state income tax at all, protected by the state constitution. The reason the math works is severance taxes on coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium extraction, which together with federal mineral royalties fund roughly 40% to 60% of state revenue in a typical year. The state also maintains the Wyoming Permanent Mineral Trust Fund, holding more than $10 billion in invested assets for long-term fiscal stability — conceptually similar to Alaska's Permanent Fund. The practical result for buyers: even in Jackson Hole, where median home values regularly exceed $1 million, the effective property tax rate runs close to 0.49%, meaning a $2 million home there can carry a smaller annual tax bill than a median-priced home in several higher-tax states.

Pick Your Loan Type

FHA3.5% down, flexible credit ConventionalSkip MIP with 20% down USDA$0 down in eligible areas VA$0 down for veterans

Try the Loan Calculator Compare FHA, Conventional, USDA & VA with Wyoming prices and current rates

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Are you a teacher, nurse, firefighter, police officer, EMT, or veteran? Wyoming may run additional hero-specific loan programs on top of the general WCDA options covered here. Browse the Hero Home Loan Programs hub and select Wyoming for profession-specific options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WCDA's Home$tretch assistance forgivable?

No. It's a 0% interest deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment, but the full amount is due when you sell, refinance, pay off your first mortgage, or after 30 years — it's not a grant.

Do I have to be a first-time buyer for Home$tretch?

No. Both first-time and repeat buyers can apply, as long as they meet the credit score and county-specific income requirements.

Why is property tax so low in Jackson Hole despite the extremely high home values?

Wyoming funds most of state government through severance taxes on mineral extraction rather than property tax, so the tax rate stays low statewide regardless of local home values. A multi-million-dollar Teton County home can carry a smaller tax bill than a modest home in a high-property-tax state.

Could Wyoming's low property tax change if mineral revenue declines?

It's a real long-term consideration — the state maintains the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund partly to buffer against fluctuations in coal, oil, and gas revenue, but property tax policy could shift over time if that funding base changes significantly. This isn't a near-term concern for most buyers, but it's worth being aware of the underlying funding model.

Bottom Line: Wyoming offers a genuinely rare combination for buyers — no state income tax and some of the lowest property tax in the country, funded by mineral extraction rather than homeowners. WCDA's Home$tretch program, open to both first-time and repeat buyers, meaningfully lowers the cash needed at closing, and Teton County buyers in particular should factor in the state's uniquely low tax burden even at very high price points.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or mortgage advice. Program terms, rates, income limits, and availability change frequently — verify all details directly with official program sources before making any financial decisions. StatewiseFinance is not affiliated with any government agency or lender listed in this post.