This Weeks Articles for 1/19/2026 ...

1. What`s in store for Green Bay, Appleton and Oshkosh housing markets?...
2. America`s new hottest housing market is a leafy town with great prices where homes are selling at record speed...
3. 30th annual Souper Bowl will help build affordable housing throughout Dane County...
4. Plan to update the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program...
5. City to receive funds for affordable housing...
6. Wausau discusses senior housing solutions as elderly population grows...
7. Evers, WHEDA award funds to GCDC, Habitat for Humanity ...

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Community Updates, News Stories, Best Practices, Resources, and other data supporting the development of affordable housing for the citizens of Wisconsin in every city and region in the State. Please consider partnering with us and sharing your story

For Elmer Moore Jr., many problems that people face in life can be traced back to one issue: housing. 

“There is no instance where the investment of housing has not worked out better for a community,” said Moore, who is the chief executive officer and executive director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, or WHEDA. 

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Ken Notes: We have become the haves and have-nots regarding housing, with those working full time making a "living wage" often no longer able to enter the housing market as owners. Developers and builders have discovered that the margins are better in rentals or higher priced homes for purchase. Communities have allowed this and even zoned to codify this development.

MADISON — Wisconsin`s housing market is closing out 2025 with mixed signals, as buyers navigate persistent inventory shortages and elevated borrowing costs while the market shows underlying strength.

Statewide home sales fell approximately 9% in November compared to the same month last year. However, sales for most of 2025 remain up about 1.5% over the previous year, indicating resilience despite ongoing challenges.

Home prices continue their upward trajectory, rising roughly 5% from last year. The price increases stem from strong buyer demand colliding with limited housing supply across the state.

Dane County presents an even more constrained market picture. Home prices in the county increased about 4.5% in November, while sales dropped nearly 11% during the same period...

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FOX CROSSING (WLUK) -- A Fox Crossing family of three was given the keys to their own home Thursday.

The hard work of Habitat for Humanity, community partners and dedicated volunteers made it possible.

According to the most recent count from Habitat for Humanity, the Fox Valley needs more than 18,000 homes to keep up with housing demands.

“As housing prices continue to go up, availability is low," said Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity President John Weyenberg. "The wages in our community just aren’t keeping pace with the increase in costs.”...

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Leo`s notes: What stands out is not just a single set of keys for a family in need, but the model behind it: community land acquisition, volunteer labor, and business partnerships focused on people, not speculation. As housing markets tighten statewide, this moment reinforces a core truth for workforce housing advocates—local, community-based solutions remain one of the most effective tools we have to keep homeownership within reach.

Ken Notes: I like Habitat, but we need a model for our workforce in service and retail. Why must a full time employee at Menard`s making $20+ / hour live in a 600 sq ft $1,250 apartment rather that a nice new 1,200 sq foot home across from a park near a school. Habitat has shown us what can be done, now communities need to partner with developers and builders to get it done.

A small lakeside city sandwiched between Chicago and Milwaukee has quietly become the most in-demand housing market in the US.

Kenosha, Wisconsin, rose to the top of Realtor.com`s December hottest housing markets list — a ranking that signals buyer demand has become so intense it has turned the market into the most competitive in the country at the end of last year.

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Ken Notes: Still the median listing price of $384,000 is high but there were a few under 250K. The proximity to Milwaukee, Racine and Chicago, mass transit, Lake Michigan, and new computer data centers coming online soon make the city very attractive.

“Preserving the affordable housing we already have is one of the smartest and most cost-effective ways to address our housing crisis,” said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. “These investments will keep dozens of families and individuals stably housed, protect long-term affordability in communities across Dane County, and ensure that existing homes remain safe, livable, and within reach for people at a range of incomes. This first round of awards reflects our commitment to using every tool available to meet urgent housing needs while building a stronger, more equitable county.”...

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Leo`s notes: Dane County’s new preservation fund underscores a critical but often overlooked truth in the housing crisis: protecting the affordable homes we already have is just as important—and far more cost-effective—than building new ones. By investing nearly $4 million to rehabilitate and preserve 65 existing units while adding modest new supply, the county is stabilizing families, preventing displacement, and extending affordability for decades. As leaders like Melissa Agard have emphasized, preservation is not a stopgap—it’s a core housing strategy that keeps communities whole while new construction catches up.

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Leo`s notes: Madison’s 2025 housing numbers offer a cautiously optimistic signal in a tight market: more than 2,300 new homes delivered, over 5,300 under construction, and tangible results from recent zoning reforms designed to make building easier and faster. While production dipped slightly from last year, the broader trend matters more—policy changes are beginning to translate into real units, including a meaningful share priced below market. For a city aiming to add 15,000 homes by 2030, the lesson is clear: sustained regulatory reform paired with steady production is not a silver bullet, but it is how housing goals move from aspiration to reality...

Wisconsin’s housing market is expected to remain competitive in 2026, according to Brian Wickert, Chief Honesty Officer and President of Accunet Mortgage. Wickert joined Wisconsin’s Afternoon News to discuss new data showing strong buyer demand across much of the state.

Wickert highlighted Kenosha as one of the hottest markets, with homes drawing three times the national average of online views and selling in just 36 days, compared to a 64-day national average. Other Wisconsin cities ranking among the most competitive include Racine, Oshkosh, Appleton, Milwaukee, and Janesville-Beloit.

He said tight supply and easing mortgage rates are likely to keep pressure on buyers, many of whom may face multiple offers and the need to bid over asking. Sellers, however, are cautioned against overpricing, which can cause homes to sit.

For first-time buyers, Wickert emphasized the importance of working with a lender who provides thorough pre-approval and clear guidance before entering the market....   ...Full Story Here

The 30th annual Souper Bowl, a beloved Madison tradition since 1995, will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Madison West High School to help build affordable housing throughout Dane County.

Hosted by the UW–Madison student chapter of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County, Souper Bowl has grown into the organization’s largest fundraiser, drawing more than 750 attendees and serving over 200 gallons of soup last year alone...

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ENABLING BETTER PLACES: A USER’S GUIDE TO WISCONSIN NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABILITY	WHEDA’s Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative	Wisconsin REALTORS® Association
WISCAP Affordable Housing Network	Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources	Housing Authority City of Milwaukee (HACM)
Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp	WEDA Legislative Tracker	NRA Housing Needs By State / Wisconsin
Wisconsin Housing Alliance	Office of Rural Prosperity Wisconsin Economic Development

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Nate Notes: to be included as a Workforce Housing resource email us a link and a brief note to: wwhnews.com@gmail.com...

• Medical College of Wisconsin proposes a 260-unit apartment complex for students.
  
  
• A four-story building is planned at 8701 Watertown Plank Rd. with two levels of parking.
  
  
• The project includes fitness centers, a rooftop patio, study spaces, and outdoor amenities.
  
  
• The Wauwatosa Design Review Board said the project is on the right track but took no action.

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Ken Notes: Working with businesses may be one approach to providing workforce housing in Wisconsin. I still believe that the key will communities owning or controlling land and then requiring lower cost homes to be built. Manufactured or modular homes, higher density, smaller homes, help with infrastructure costs, partnering with business or non profits, all could help. Be we need a plan and all the players need to be at the table.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Some help could be on the way for prospective homebuyers in Wisconsin and across the U.S.

President Trump said he plans to ban large investors from buying up more single-family homes.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump stated he is taking steps to ban institutions from buying up single-family properties, and he’s calling on Congress to codify it...

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Leo`s notes: As housing affordability continues to slip out of reach for many Wisconsin families, the renewed focus on curbing institutional ownership of single-family homes highlights a growing consensus: homes should primarily serve as places to live, not just financial assets. Even as proposals from the current administration spark debate, the underlying issue remains clear: without more owner-occupied housing and increased supply, Wisconsin’s “C”-grade affordability will continue to erode the American dream of home ownership.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - Green Bay is making changes to its zoning rules, opening the door to more housing options in neighborhoods that previously didn’t allow those options.

City leaders say the goal is to address housing needs while preserving the character of existing neighborhoods.

The zoning changes come after a comprehensive plan update where residents and stakeholders asked the city to take a closer look at how land can be used and what can be built.

“Trying to address affordable housing, which is an issue in Green Bay, throughout the state, throughout the country,” John Leroy, zoning administrator for the city of Green Bay, said...

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Leo`s notes: Green Bay’s decision to modernize its zoning code is a clear signal that cities can no longer afford to let outdated land-use rules stand in the way of housing opportunity. The reforms won’t solve the housing shortage overnight, but they represent a pragmatic shift toward flexibility—recognizing that affordability is as much about where and what we allow to be built as it is about subsidies or incentives.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin State Assembly held its first session of 2026 [Tuesday] and passed a series of resolutions and bills, including a proposal by State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) to update the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program (LIHTC).

“LIHTC is an important tool for encouraging investment in low-to-moderate-income housing, which Wisconsin desperately needs, in rural areas as well as big cities,” Representative Armstrong explained. “Today’s bill, Assembly Bill 182, requires the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to set aside at least 35% of its annual LIHTC allocations for qualified projects in rural areas.  Current law does require WHEDA to give preference to projects in ‘smaller communities’, but the definition it uses covers cities like Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, and Appleton – not what most people think of when they think ‘smaller’, unless you live in Milwaukee or Madison!  AB 182, on the other hand, makes sure truly small, rural towns aren’t overlooked.”...

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RHINELANDER (WJFW) — While prices haven’t started falling and it’s still considered a seller’s market, the supply of houses is slowly growing as the Baby Boomer generation gets older.

David Clark, economics professor emeritus of Marquette University and economics consultant for the Wisconsin Relators Association, acknowledges the struggles of current home buyers.

“The real challenge is not on the demand side. There’s plenty of demand for housing but the real challenge is on the supply side,” he said. “There are simply more people who want to buy homes than there are homes for them to purchase.”...   ...Full Story Here

Ken Notes: Again, we have created the have and have nots in housing. The aging in place model is a great opportunity for senior boomers but with entry costs new facilities (Independent Living thru Assisted Living or Hospice) at or near 500K we have made these facilities out of reach for most. Also seniors do not want to age in the facilities that their parents or grandparents were in and would love options but again these options are not out there for most...

New county program focuses on rehabilitation, preservation

Dane County will award $3,926,399 in funding through a unique new program focused on preserving existing units of affordable housing across Dane County, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard announced in a Friday, Jan. 9 news release.

It’s the fund’s first-ever round of awards, anticipated to preserve and/or rehabilitate 65 units of housing in the communities of Fitchburg, Stoughton, and Madison, and create four new units of affordable housing in the Village of Waunakee...

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Ken Notes: Read This, the numbers are scary and suggest that for service and retail workers their may be few options available and clearly nothing affordable to purchase. We can do better...

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - The Wausau Common Council discussed the city’s growing elderly population and housing challenges during a meeting Tuesday night, reviewing a 2025 report on senior living from the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

The city is facing a shortage of housing with accommodations for seniors, according to the report presented to the council.

“If they were to need a wheelchair or walker to make the doors wider. To be able to have things more easily accessible to them, to reach or to be able to access within their apartment,” said Director Mike Rhea with the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin...   ...Full Story Here

An Indiana-based development firm is considering an approximately 200-unit apartment complex near the former Northridge Mall site on Milwaukee’s far northwest side. The Annex Group presented conceptual plans Wednesday morning to the Granville-Havenwoods Advisory Council for a 13-acre, undeveloped site at 9251 N. 70th St., just east of the now-demolished Northridge Mall...   ...Full Story Here

Ken Notes: Paywall, but bottom line developers can make good money and long term returns building apartments and the income, tax credits, profits, and equity stay with the developer. Time to rethink low cost condos we can avoid 2008 by creating

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Across Wisconsin many employees can simply not afford to live where they work.

This is true in big cities and small rural communities. Both the availability and price of housing is not in line with the needs of those working in jobs that are vital to the success of our communities. Imagine a firefighter, teacher, city employee, service, or retail worker not able to afford a home in the community they serve.

We believe Wisconsin employers will support these efforts so they can successfully recruit workers to fill the thousands of job openings now hampered by a shortage of affordable housing.


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WWHNEWS Notes: To add a resource or correct above send data and link to wwhnews.com[at]gmail.com...