See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 15, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Evanston, IL (2026)
Evanston is a Lake Michigan suburb just north of Chicago, home to Northwestern University and one of the priciest housing markets in Cook County with a median home value around $465,000. Evanston stands out nationally as the first U.S. city to fund reparations: the Evanston Restorative Housing Program offers up to $25,000 for qualifying Black residents (ancestors living in Evanston 1919-1969 and their direct descendants, or those harmed by post-1969 discrimination) toward down payment, mortgage, or home improvement. The City of Evanston itself does not run a general down payment assistance program, so other buyers rely on the Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program (5% up to $25,000 when funded) and statewide IHDA programs including IHDAccess Home (up to $15,000). Community Partners for Affordable Housing operates an Evanston Community Land Trust that sells permanently affordable homes to households up to 120% AMI. Stacked together, qualifying buyers can access $15,000 to $50,000 in combined assistance depending on eligibility and program availability.
City Programs in Evanston
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston Restorative Housing Program (Reparations) | Grant | Up to $25,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000
- First-time only:
- No
County Programs in Cook County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | 5% of home sale price up to ,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- 5% of home sale price up to ,000
- First-time only:
- No
State Programs in Illinois
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLBank Chicago Downpayment Plus (DPP) | Grant | Up to ,000 | No | View → |
| IHDA Access Deferred | Deferred Loan | 5% of purchase price up to ,500 | Yes | View → |
| IHDA Access Forgivable | Forgivable Loan | 4% of purchase price up to ,000 | Yes | View → |
| IHDA Access Repayable | Zero-Interest Loan | 10% of purchase price up to ,000 | Yes | View → |
| IHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) | Tax Credit | Federal tax credit: 25% of annual mortgage interest (capped at ,000/year) | Yes | View → |
| IHDA SmartBuy | Forgivable Loan | ,000 DPA plus up to ,000 toward student loan payoff | Yes | View → |
| IHDAccess Home | Deferred Loan | Up to ,000 (6% of purchase price) | Yes | View → |
| Opening Doors / Abriendo Puertas | Forgivable Loan | Up to ,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to ,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- 5% of purchase price up to ,500
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- 4% of purchase price up to ,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- 10% of purchase price up to ,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- Federal tax credit: 25% of annual mortgage interest (capped at ,000/year)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- ,000 DPA plus up to ,000 toward student loan payoff
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to ,000 (6% of purchase price)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to ,000
- 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 → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPAH Evanston Community Land Trust | Zero-Interest Loan | Permanently affordable home purchase (below-market price; land leased at ~$25/month) | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity Chicago | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home with 0% interest mortgage | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Permanently affordable home purchase (below-market price; land leased at ~$25/month)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market home with 0% interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The Evanston Restorative Housing Program is limited to qualifying Black residents (ancestors or direct descendants from 1919-1969, or those who experienced housing discrimination after 1969). Cook County DPA allows up to 120% AMI (about $143,880 for a family of four). IHDAccess Home in Cook County is available to first-time buyers earning up to roughly $137,885 depending on household size.
Complete HUD-approved homebuyer education. Any HUD-approved counseling agency certificate qualifies for Cook County DPA and IHDA. Open Communities and the West Cook Homeownership Center serve the North Shore area.
If you qualify, apply for the Evanston Restorative Housing Program through the City of Evanston Reparations Committee. Applications open in defined cycles — check cityofevanston.org for the current round and required ancestry documentation.
For standard DPA, check Cook County DPA funding status at cookcountyil.gov. The program has periodically run out of funds; confirm availability before planning around it.
Get pre-approved with an IHDA-participating lender. IHDA has more than 160 approved lenders statewide. Your lender will determine which IHDA product fits best and whether it can layer with Cook County DPA or CPAH Community Land Trust pricing.
Consider CPAH Community Land Trust listings. CPAH sells permanently affordable homes in Evanston to households at or below 120% AMI. The homeowner owns the building; CPAH owns the land and leases it for roughly $25/month. Contact CPAH at cpahousing.org to see current inventory.
Submit your combined application, close, and occupy. Evanston's high home prices mean layering multiple programs is often necessary. 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.