Increase your buying power in Illinois
29 homebuyer assistance programs in Illinois put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 29 programs tell us about buying in Illinois
Chicago dominates
The city’s BNAH program offers up to $100,000, and city-linked programs add shared equity, CHA purchase grants and a mortgage credit certificate.
IHDA’s statewide help is small but universal
Illinois Housing Development Authority offers $6,000 forgivable, $7,500 deferred or $10,000 repaid over 10 years, anywhere in the state.
Funding is tight right now
7 Illinois programs we track are currently out of funds or waitlisted, a fifth of the state’s list. Check status before you plan around one.
How the help arrives · 29 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
4 programs are available statewide. 25 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 29 Illinois programs and 25 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in Illinois
A few of the 29 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
IHDAccess Forgivable
Illinois Housing Development Authority4% of the price up to $6,000 for down payment and closing costs, with an IHDA first mortgage.
IHDAccess Deferred
Illinois Housing Development Authority5% of the price up to $7,500 as a 0% loan, with an IHDA first mortgage.
IHDAccess Repayable
Illinois Housing Development Authority10% of the price up to $10,000 as a 0% loan, with an IHDA first mortgage.
Building Neighborhoods and Affordable Homes (BNAH)
City of Chicago Department of Housing$70,000 to $100,000 depending on income and neighborhood, for households up to 140% of area median income. Covers appraisal gaps, down payment and closing costs.
CHA Purchase Assistance Grant
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago$20,000 for Chicago Housing Authority residents and $10,000 for others, up to 120% of area median income.
Purchase Assistance Program
Cook County Land Bank AuthorityA percentage of the purchase price, up to $20,000, for buyers in Cook County.
25 multi-state programs also serve Illinois
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
These are 4 of the 25 multi-state programs open to Illinois buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in Illinois
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every Illinois program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
Illinois homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in Illinois?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 21 Illinois programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $10,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
15 of the 29 active programs (52%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 6 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. 4 of the 29 Illinois programs we track explicitly require first-time status, and most of those count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 1 program we track in Illinois are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. Illinois has 4 programs available statewide and 25 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in Illinois, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. 7 programs we track are currently paused, out of funds or waitlisted and not counted on this page. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.