See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 15, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Des Plaines, IL (2026)
Des Plaines is a Cook County suburb northwest of Chicago with a median home price of approximately $357,000. The City of Des Plaines does not offer a dedicated down payment assistance program, but first-time buyers can combine Illinois state programs, including IHDAccess Home with up to $15,000 and IHDA Access Forgivable with up to $6,000, with federal loan options such as FHA and VA. The Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program (up to $25,000) is currently closed. Des Plaines does use its CDBG funds for home rehabilitation programs for existing homeowners, and Housing Opportunity Development Corporation (HODC) provides free HUD-approved homebuyer counseling serving the area. Stacking state IHDA assistance with a low-down-payment federal loan can meaningfully reduce the cash needed to buy in Des Plaines.
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. For IHDAccess Home, Cook County first-time buyers can earn up to $137,885 (household-size dependent). Income limits also apply to IHDA Access Forgivable, Deferred, and Repayable loans.
Step 2: Complete HUD-approved homebuyer education. Contact Housing Opportunity Development Corporation (HODC) at 847-564-2900 or cmeeks@hodc.org for free pre-purchase counseling serving Des Plaines and the northern suburbs.
Step 3: Check whether the Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program has reopened. Contact the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development for current funding status.
Step 4: Get pre-approved with an IHDA-participating lender. The full list of approved lenders is available at ihdamortgage.org.
Step 5: Find a home within IHDA purchase price limits. Your lender will confirm the current maximum at pre-approval.
Step 6: Submit your application through your IHDA lender. Closing typically occurs 30-45 days after contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Des Plaines?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Does Des Plaines have a city-funded down payment assistance program?+−
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