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Illinois Down Payment and Homeownership Assistance


Every state has down payment or homeownership assistance programs; some states have both. The programs are designed to provide affordable housing opportunities to homebuyers who might not ordinarily be able to afford a house.

Each program can have their own income and eligibility requirements but primarily the programs are available for first-time homebuyers or low-income families.

Keep in mind if you had no ownership in a principal residence in the previous 3 years, you are also considered a first-time homebuyer even if you owned a home prior to that 3-year period.

The programs are not usually administered directly through the State. Instead, they are nonprofit based and handled through a third party agency. The list below will start you on your search but be sure to confirm the program is currently available.

(Source: HUD.gov)

Statewide and Regional Programs

American Dream Down Payment Initiative
Some communities use HUD’s HOME Investment Partnership Program to assist first-time home buyers Find your local HOME program contacts
Illinois Housing Development Authority – uses state housing bond funds and HUD home funds to foster homeownership throughout the state of Illinois

Illinois State Treasurer’s Office

Finally Home
Mi Casa USA

Programs by City/Town

Community Housing Association of DuPage
City of Chicago, Department of Housing – has many programs for city residents
Cook County Planning & Development
Lake County Affordable Housing Center
DuPage homeownership center – offers free homebuyer seminars, free credit seminars, free individual counseling and administers the DuPage Homestead Program
Corporation for Affordable Homes McHenry County
Village of Oak Park Homebuyer program

The cities listed below offer various incentives for Homebuying. Contact the city for details.

City Phone Contact
Aurora – (630) 844-3627
Champaign – (217) 351- 4427
Decatur – (217) 424-2797
DeKalb – (815) 748-2060
Joliet – (815) 724-4100
Kankakee – (815) 933-0421
Madison Co. – (618) 692-7040
McHenry Co. – (815) 334-4560
Moline – (309) 797-0710
Mount Prospect – (847) 818-5328
Normal – (309) 545-9557
Rockford – (815) 987-5690
Springfield – (217) 789-2377
Urbana – (217) 384-2335
Will County – (815) 722-0722 ext. 225