Assistance program · Illinois
Limited funds remain, per the source
Opening Doors
Flat $9,000 from IHDA for the down payment and closing costs, as a 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments that is forgiven over five years; for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before (limited funds)
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- $9,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Forgivable
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
- First-time buyer?
- No
- No first-time requirement
- Minimum credit score
- 640
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
What it gives
$9,000
Source text
A no monthly payment, forgivable down payment assistance loan, no repayment unless sold or refinanced before 5 yr. forgiveness period. … Assistance Amount Flat $9,000 … Assistance Maximum $9,000 … Term Length 5 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 No
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score 640
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional
- Immigration requirement Not stated — 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 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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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. Illinois has 81 agencies on HUD's list, and 29 serve people in Spanish.
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Pick a mortgage it works with
According to its page, the help is used together with a FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional loan. Each loan type has its own requirements.
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Check your score: the published minimum is 640
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
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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 3 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Illinois Housing Development Authority.
What its page does not say
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- After how many years is the loan forgiven, and what happens if I sell or refinance before then?
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 the only one of Illinois's 6 programs that says you do not need to 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 "forgivable" help: IHDAccess Forgivable. It covers the whole state; one program on the list is only for a city or a county. 2 of the 6 require a homebuyer course, this one included.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Doorsthis programLimited funds remain, per the source | Forgivable | $9,000 | No | Yes | 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 DeferredLimited 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 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 |
| 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
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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Mortgage loans
FHA loan: down payment, insurance, limits and who qualifies
How an FHA loan works: the down payment and credit score HUD requires, MIP mortgage insurance, your county limit, the home and the residency rules.
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.