Down payment assistance · Illinois
1 county-wide program, 2 cities with their own, plus 7 statewide and 62 nationwide.Cook has 1 program that covers the whole county and 2 cities with a program of their own. On top of those, 7 statewide and 62 nationwide programs are open here. Start with your city or ZIP to see which apply to the home you want.
Free · No credit pull · No SSN
Anywhere in CookAnywhere in Cook County
It asks for a homebuyer class.This is run for the whole county, so a home in Chicago, Hazel Crest or Cicero can use it. It asks for a homebuyer class.
Forgivable loan · Forgiven over 5 yrs · Income limit 120% of AMI
Fully-rehabbed single-family home, 1-4 unit, condominium, or townhouse participating in WCA rehab program in eligible communities
AMI is HUD’s area median income for Cook, adjusted for household size. Each program publishes its own dollar limits.
Only inside city limits
For a home inside that city, on top of the county-wide 1.A city program is for a home inside that city. Buying there? It sits on top of the 1 county-wide program above.
The Cook marketThe Cook housing market
Condos count. The one county-wide program lists condos as eligible.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
73.2%
of Cook homes were built before 1980. Pre-1978 homes come with a federal lead-paint disclosure.of homes were built before 1980. A home built before 1978 comes with a federal lead-paint disclosure, and some programs require an inspection.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25034.
The two income figures measure different things. HUD’s area median income is the one programs use. 18 of the 76 programs here set their income limit as a share of Cook County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Cook County
Free help in CookFree help in Cook
7 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.All 7 local programs here ask for a homebuyer class. A HUD-approved counselor teaches it and can walk you through your options. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.
Free account → 90-second match → your counselors · Sign in
Counted from HUD’s list of approved agencies: active offices whose ZIP code is in Cook County.
117 cities and placesA to Z
has a program of its own
The 1 county-wide program cover homes anywhere in the county. City programs, like Chicago’s and Hazel Crest’s, are only for homes inside that city’s limits. Each agency sets its own rules, so confirm on the program’s official site.
Sometimes. Combining ("stacking") programs is set by each administering agency, and some do not allow a second program on the same home. Each program’s page links to the agency that can say.
HUD publishes it once a year; the 2026 four-person figure is shown above. Programs set their limits as a share of it, adjusted for household size, and the published limits page lists each one.
The one county-wide program lists condos as eligible. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 41 agencies have an office in Cook County. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
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Sources
Programs: Hey Prescott catalog of 2,000+ programs, each verified with its agency (June–September 2026). Market: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024), tables B01003, B25077, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B19013. Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.