Illinois’s statewide first-time home buyer programs in 2026 are run by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), which lists five down payment options in its program directory (checked November 9, 2026): Opening Doors ($9,000), IHDAccess Home (up to $15,000), IHDAccess Forgivable (up to $6,000), IHDAccess Deferred (up to $7,500) and IHDAccess Repayable (up to $10,000). For this week’s status of every Chicago program, see which Chicago home buyer assistance programs are open right now.
Last reviewed October 18, 2026 · Chicago First Time Home Buyer editorial team
Buying in Chicago? The Chicago down payment assistance calculator compares IHDA’s options with City, Cook County and FHLBank Chicago programs for your income and price.
IHDA programs at a glance
| Program | Assistance | How it’s repaid | First-time buyers only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| IHDAccess Home | 6% of the price, up to $15,000 | 0% second mortgage, no payments; due on sale, refinance, payoff or after 30 years | Yes |
| IHDAccess Forgivable | 4% of the price, up to $6,000 | 0% second mortgage, forgiven month by month over 10 years | No |
| IHDAccess Deferred | 5% of the price, up to $7,500 | 0% second mortgage, no payments; due on sale, refinance, payoff or after 30 years | No |
| IHDAccess Repayable | 10% of the price, up to $10,000 | 0% second mortgage repaid monthly over 10 years | No |
| Opening Doors | $9,000 (flat amount) | No monthly payments; forgivable after 5 years, repaid only if you sell or refinance before then | Not stated in IHDA’s directory; ask your lender |
IHDA’s program directory lists all five as active, each marked “limited funds remain” (checked November 9, 2026). Funding is not guaranteed until your lender reserves it with IHDA. IHDAccess Home’s first-time buyer rule does not apply to qualified veterans or to buyers in IHDA targeted areas.
What every IHDA program requires
- An IHDA 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, or Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac’s housing finance agency loans) from an IHDA-approved lender.
- A credit score of at least 640, and a debt-to-income ratio of 50% or less.
- Pre-purchase homebuyer education for every borrower.
- Your own money of at least 1% of the price or $1,000, whichever is greater.
- A 1- or 2-unit home, condo or townhome you move into within 60 days. Manufactured homes are not eligible.
- Income and purchase price under the limits for the county where the home is.
IHDA income and price limits for Chicago (Cook County)
These limits apply to reservations dated July 1, 2026 and later. Targeted areas, shown on IHDA’s map, have higher limits.
| Limit | IHDAccess Home | IHDAccess Home, targeted area | Other IHDAccess programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income, 1–2 people | $121,500 | $145,800 | $170,100 |
| Income, 3 or more people | $139,725 | $170,100 | $170,100 |
| Price, 1-unit home | $566,354 | $692,211 | $666,354 ($792,211 targeted) |
| Price, 2-unit home | $725,146 | $866,289 | $825,146 ($986,289 targeted) |
Programs that are closed or suspended
- Mortgage Credit Certificate: IHDA suspended its credit certificate program on June 17, 2020. In Chicago, the City’s TaxSmart certificate is a separate program, but it cannot be used with an IHDA mortgage.
- SmartBuy: the student-debt program ran from December 2024 to June 2025 and is closed.
Using IHDA with other assistance
IHDA’s lender directory says its programs can be combined with FHLBank Chicago’s Downpayment Plus, and marks the lenders that offer both. They cannot be paired with the City of Chicago’s HomeGrown grant: NHS Chicago, a HomeGrown administrator, says bond-funded programs such as IHDA’s cannot be layered with it. See HomeGrown vs. IHDAccess Home to compare the two.
If you sell or refinance
The Forgivable option’s unforgiven balance is due if you sell or refinance within 10 years. The Deferred and IHDAccess Home loans are repaid in full when you sell, refinance or pay off the first mortgage. IHDA second mortgages cannot be resubordinated, so a refinance pays them off. Separately, IHDA loans funded with tax-exempt bonds can carry a federal recapture tax if you sell within 9 years at a gain with a higher income; IHDA says it reimburses that tax on loans reserved after June 15, 2005.
How to apply
There is no separate IHDA application. Find an IHDA-approved lender with IHDA’s lender search, complete homebuyer education, and the lender handles the reservation and IHDA’s approval.
Common questions
What first-time home buyer programs does Illinois have in 2026?
IHDA offers IHDAccess Home (up to $15,000 for first-time buyers), IHDAccess Forgivable (up to $6,000), IHDAccess Deferred (up to $7,500) and IHDAccess Repayable (up to $10,000), all with an IHDA first mortgage.
What is the IHDA income limit in Cook County?
For IHDAccess Home, $121,500 for 1–2 people and $139,725 for 3 or more, for reservations from July 1, 2026. Targeted areas and the other IHDAccess programs have higher limits.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer for IHDA assistance?
Only for IHDAccess Home, and even then veterans and buyers in targeted areas are exempt. The Forgivable, Deferred and Repayable options are open to repeat buyers.
Can I combine IHDA with HomeGrown?
No. NHS Chicago says bond-funded programs such as IHDA’s cannot be layered with the City’s HomeGrown grant.
For city and county programs too, see Chicago first-time home buyer programs.
Sources
- IHDA Mortgage, program directory (checked October 18, 2026)
- IHDA Mortgage, all-programs matrix (March 2026)
- IHDA Mortgage, income and purchase price limits, Cook County (reservations from July 1, 2026)
- IHDA Mortgage, IHDAccess Home
- IHDA Mortgage, Mortgage Credit Certificate (suspended June 17, 2020)
- IHDA Mortgage, find an IHDA lender
- IHDA Mortgage, recapture tax
- Office of the Governor, SmartBuy closed (September 26, 2025)
- NHS Chicago, HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program (layering rules)
Cite this page: Chicago First Time Home Buyer, “Illinois First-Time Home Buyer Programs in 2026: IHDA Options for Chicago Buyers,” reviewed October 18, 2026, chicagofirsttimehomebuyer.com/programs/illinois-first-time-home-buyer-programs/.