Assistance program · Illinois
Limited funds remain, per the source
IHDAccess Deferred
IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to 5% of the price, capped at $7,500
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Deferred
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
- First-time buyer?
- Not stated — ask
- The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
What it gives
Up to 5% of the price, capped at $7,500
Source text
A no monthly payment, deferred down payment assistance loan, payment is due when you sell or refinance. … Assistance Amount 5% … Assistance Maximum $7,500 … Term Length 30 years A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
Potential borrowers must meet all applicable program guidelines and income/purchase price limits for the county the property is located in to be eligible. … All program funding and availability is subject to change at any time, and is not guaranteed until the lender places a complete reservation with IHDA Mortgage. - First-time buyers only Not stated — ask
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score Not stated — ask
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement The source does not mention one — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Yes
- Program status Limited funds remain, per the source
- Where it applies All of Illinois
What its page says about being open
LIMITED FUNDS REMAIN … Closing Soon / Limited Funding Programs are active programs and are still available for approved IHDA lenders to reserve in TPO Connect. These programs are nearing fund depletion and will soon be unavailable to lock TPO Connect. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026. ihdamortgage.org
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Illinois
The program covers all of Illinois. The first column is Illinois's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The program sets its maximum price in a table. Compare it with the typical home value in Illinois: $263,300.
The typical home value ($263,300) fits within Illinois's FHA limit ($541,287).
The program sets its income limit in its own table. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in Illinois is $74,500.
| Figure | Illinois | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $263,300 | $59,800 (Alexander County) to $391,400 (DuPage County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 in all 102 counties | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 in all 102 counties | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $74,500 | $71,750 (Boone County) to $106,800 (Kendall County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask how much is left
Its page says limited funds remain. Ask whether it still takes applications and how long an answer takes.
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Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
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Check your county's maximum price
The program sets a maximum price per county in its table.
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Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 6 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Illinois Housing Development Authority.
What its page does not say
- Is it only for first-time buyers?
- Do you require a homebuyer course? Which ones do you accept, and what do they cost?
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- When is the second loan repaid: when I sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage?
Against the others
How it compares with Illinois's other programs
The 6 programs we checked in Illinois, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 4 programs in Illinois, out of 6, whose page does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. It is one of 6 out of 6 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. One other program in the state also gives "deferred" help: IHDAccess Home. It covers the whole state; one program on the list is only for a city or a county.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHDAccess Deferredthis programLimited funds remain, per the source | Deferred | Up to 5% of the price, capped at $7,500 | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| IHDAccess HomeLimited funds remain, per the source | Deferred | Up to 6% of the price, capped at $15,000 | Yes | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| IHDAccess ForgivableLimited funds remain, per the source | Forgivable | Up to 4% of the price, capped at $6,000 | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| IHDAccess RepayableLimited funds remain, per the source | Repayable | Up to 10% of the price, capped at $10,000 | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Opening DoorsLimited funds remain, per the source | Forgivable | $9,000 | No | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| HomeGrown Purchase AssistanceOpen, per the source | Grant | Up to $70,000 | Doesn't say | Yes | Doesn't say | Chicago, Cook County |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
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Help and programs
Public charge and housing: what the rules say
Public charge: which housing help DHS may consider, who is exempt, how HUD prorates assistance for mixed-status families and where to get free advice.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.