See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 15, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Cicero, IL (2026)
Cicero is a working-class town of about 82,000 people just west of Chicago in Cook County. Home prices have climbed in recent years and the median sale price now sits around $290,000. Because Cicero is in Cook County, buyers here have access to the Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program (5% of purchase price up to $25,000) when funding is open, plus statewide IHDA programs including IHDAccess Home (up to $15,000) and IHDA Access Forgivable (up to $6,000). The Town of Cicero Housing Department administers CDBG funds primarily for home repair and weatherization rather than direct purchase assistance. Habitat for Humanity Chicago builds and sells affordable homes in Cook County communities including Cicero. Stacked together, qualifying Cicero buyers can access $15,000 to $40,000 in combined assistance depending on program availability.
County Programs in Cook County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | — | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- First-time only:
- No
State Programs in Illinois
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLBank Chicago Downpayment Plus (DPP) | Grant | Up to $10,000 forgivable grant (lesser of $10,000 or 25% of the first mortgage amount) | No | View → |
| IHDA Access Deferred | Deferred Loan | — | Yes | View → |
| IHDA Access Forgivable | Forgivable Loan | — | Yes | View → |
| IHDA Access Repayable | Zero-Interest Loan | — | Yes | View → |
| IHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) | Tax Credit | — | Yes | View → |
| IHDA SmartBuy | Forgivable Loan | — | Yes | View → |
| IHDAccess Home | Deferred Loan | — | Yes | View → |
| Opening Doors / Abriendo Puertas | Forgivable Loan | — | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 forgivable grant (lesser of $10,000 or 25% of the first mortgage amount)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- First-time only:
- Yes
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity Chicago | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home with 0% interest mortgage | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market home with 0% interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Cook County DPA allows households up to 120% of Area Median Income (about $143,880 for a family of four), with no income limit in Qualified Census Tracts or Disproportionately Impacted Areas. IHDA programs have their own limits — in Cook County, IHDAccess Home is available up to about $137,885 in household income depending on size.
Step 2: Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. All Cook County DPA and IHDA programs require this. West Cook Homeownership Center and NHS Chicago are HUD-approved counseling agencies that serve the Cicero area.
Step 3: Check Cook County DPA funding status. The Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program is currently closed to new applications pending re-funding. Check cookcountyil.gov/service/down-payment-assistance-program for the latest availability before planning around this program.
Step 4: Get pre-approved with an IHDA-participating lender. IHDA has more than 160 approved lenders statewide — your lender will determine which IHDA product (Access Home, Access Forgivable, Access Deferred, Access Repayable, or SmartBuy) fits best.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. IHDA has statewide purchase price limits that update annually; Cook County DPA limits apply when that program is open. With Cicero's median home price around $290,000, most of the local market fits within IHDA caps.
Step 6: Submit your combined application. IHDA programs can often be layered with Cook County DPA when both are open. Your lender coordinates both approvals before closing. Plan for 30 to 60 days from contract to close.
Step 7: Close and occupy. IHDA forgivable assistance is forgiven over 10 years; IHDAccess Home is a deferred second with repayment triggered only on sale, refinance, or after 30 years. Keep the home as your primary residence to honor the terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Cicero?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price in Cicero?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Is the Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program currently open?+−
Does the Town of Cicero offer direct down payment assistance?+−
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