Illinois Access Home

Illinois Housing Development Authority offers Access Home to first-time buyers in Illinois: the most is 6% of the price, and the dollar cap is $15,000, as a deferred loan.

Amount: The most is 6% of the price, and the dollar cap is $15,000.
Type of assistance: A loan with deferred repayment
Only first-time buyers: Some exceptions apply, but the answer is yes
Your credit score: At least 640

Paying back Illinois Access Home: how does it work?

A deferred loan: a 0% loan that comes due if you sell the home, refinance it or finish paying the mortgage.

No monthly cost comes with a deferred loan. When you sell, refinance or make the last payment on the first mortgage, the whole amount is payable in full.

Illinois Access Home: who qualifies?

There are limits on both income and purchase price with AccessHome.
You must be a first-time buyer, although exceptions exist.
Your credit score must be at least 640.
You must take a homebuyer education course before buying.
You'd take it alongside an IHDA 30-year fixed-rate loan, specifically an FHA, VA, USDA, FNMA HFA Preferred or FHLMC HFA Advantage one.

Check the agency income chart for the exact limit that applies to your county and household size. Use our HUD income limits tool to see the median income in your area.

Illinois Access Home: how to apply

Because Illinois Housing Development Authority sends this money through its approved lenders, your application goes to one of those lenders along with your home loan.
Your lender reviews your credit, income and the home against program rules, then reserves the funds on your behalf.
At closing you get the help, applied to your down payment and closing costs.

For the full rules and to see if applications are being taken, go to Illinois Housing Development Authority's page for Access Home. The agency also has a participating lender list you can pick from.

Illinois Access Home: ask a lender

Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with Illinois's programs can tell you whether Illinois Access Home fits you, and what you could combine with it.

Call 866-602-7460

Don't want to call? Share your information and the lender will get in touch with you.

More Illinois programs for first-time buyers

Illinois Access Forgivable:
Forgivable loan: as much as 4% of the price, no more than $6,000.
Illinois Access Deferred:
Deferred loan: as much as 5% of the price, no more than $7,500.
Illinois Access Repayable:
Repayable loan: as much as 10% of the price, no more than $10,000.
Illinois Opening Doors (Abriendo Puertas):
Forgivable loan of as much as $6,000.

All first-time home buyer programs in Illinois · Down payment assistance across every state