West Cook Advantage Program (WCA)
Forgivable loan · Forgiven over 5 yrs · Income limits
Down payment assistance · Cook County
Buying a home in River Forest, IL
1 county program and 7 statewide.River Forest has no program of its own, 1 across Cook County, and 7 statewide. Here is what each one offers, what the local market looks like, and who near you can walk you through it.
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What’s local to River Forest
No program of River Forest’s own yet
No program run for River Forest alone is listed. A home in River Forest can use Cook County’s programs below, plus the Illinois statewide and federal ones.
The closest city that runs its own program is Chicago, about 9 miles away. City programs usually require the home to be inside that city’s limits.
Anywhere in CookAnywhere in Cook County
1 county program1 county program a River Forest homebuyer can use
6 more programs are for homes in Chicago and Hazel Crest. See them 6 programs in neighboring cities — for homes inside those cities, not River Forest
- Chicago — Building Neighborhoods and Affordable Homes Program
- Chicago — Chicago Home Buyer Assistance
- Chicago — NHS Chicago / NLS Down Payment Assistance Grant
- Hazel Crest — South Suburban Housing Center Hazel Crest Down Payment Assistance Program
- Chicago — Habitat for Humanity Chicago Affordable Homeownership Program
- Chicago — Purchase Assistance Program
The River Forest marketThe River Forest housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat’s for sale here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in River Forest
- 58.8% single-familysingle-family
- 3.9% townhousetownhouse
- 6.3% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 30.7% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 0.3% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. River Forest’s one local program accepts condos.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When River Forest’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
88.3%
of River Forest 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.
$121,500
County area median income, 4 people (HUD)HUD area median income, Cook County, 4-person household (2026)
$146,786
River Forest median household incomeMedian household income in River Forest (Census, 2024)
13 of the 70 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 nearbyFree help near River Forest
30 HUD-approved counseling agencies within 15 miles30 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies within 15 miles
River Forest’s program asks for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.West Cook Advantage Program (WCA) asks 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.
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Across Illinois and nationwide
69 statewide & federal programs7 statewide programs, plus federal options
River Forest questions
Does River Forest have its own down payment program?
No program run for River Forest alone is listed. A home in River Forest can use the 1 program that cover Cook County and the 7 statewide programs. Each program’s own site has the current terms.
Can I use assistance on a condo in River Forest?
River Forest’s one local program accepts condos. Each program’s page lists the kinds of homes it accepts, and the agency confirms it for the home you choose.
What is the income limit in Cook County?
Each program sets its own. 13 of the programs here set theirs as a share of HUD’s area median income for Cook County, adjusted for household size. HUD publishes the median each year; the 2026 figure is shown above and on the published limits page.
Where can I take a homebuyer class near River Forest?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 30 agencies are within 15 miles of River Forest. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
ZIP codes
60305
Nearby in Cook
Sources
Sources: agency sites (June–September 2026), Census ACS 2024 5-year, HUD FY2026, HUD counseling list. Hey Prescott is not a lender.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). Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.