See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 15, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Naperville, IL (2026)
Naperville is one of Chicagoland's premier suburbs, straddling DuPage and Will Counties, with a median home price near 0,000 as of 2026 — substantially higher than the Illinois statewide average. Naperville does not run its own city-level down payment assistance program, but buyers here have strong state and nonprofit options. Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) programs include IHDAccess Home (up to ,000 in 0% deferred assistance), Access Forgivable (up to ,000 forgiven over 10 years), Access Deferred (up to ,500), Access Repayable (up to ,000), Opening Doors (,000 forgivable after 5 years), and the IHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate delivering a 25% annual federal tax credit on mortgage interest. FHLBank Chicago Downpayment Plus provides up to ,000 in forgivable grants through participating lenders. The DuPage Homeownership Center (HOME DuPage) administers the DuPage Homestead Program, offering reduced-interest first mortgages paired with an interest-free second mortgage for first-time buyers in Naperville (note: the Homestead ,000 closing grant is specifically not available for Naperville purchases). DuPage Habitat for Humanity serves the Naperville area with its affordable homeownership track, and HOME DuPage is DuPage's only continuously HUD-approved housing counseling agency.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuPage and Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home with 0% interest Habitat mortgage | No | View → |
| DuPage Homestead Program | Silent Second Mortgage | Reduced-interest first mortgage plus an interest-free second mortgage | Yes | View → |
| HOME DuPage Housing Counseling | Grant | HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling, homebuyer education, financial coaching, and foreclosure prevention | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market home with 0% interest Habitat mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Silent Second Mortgage
- Amount:
- Reduced-interest first mortgage plus an interest-free second mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling, homebuyer education, financial coaching, and foreclosure prevention
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. With Naperville's high median price, confirm your household income fits within DuPage/Will County IHDA limits (which are relatively generous) and that you meet the 640 IHDA credit score minimum or 660 DuPage Homestead minimum.
Complete homebuyer education. Start with a Gateway to Homeownership Orientation or homebuyer education class through HOME DuPage (the county's HUD-approved counseling agency). IHDA also accepts eHome America and Framework online courses.
Contact HOME DuPage. HOME DuPage administers the DuPage Homestead Program and provides free counseling, financial coaching, and pre-purchase education.
Get pre-approved with an IHDA-approved lender. IHDA's statewide network of 160+ lenders participates in IHDAccess Home, Access products, Opening Doors, and the MCC. For Downpayment Plus, choose a participating FHLBank Chicago member bank or credit union.
Find a home within program limits. Homestead requires the home to be in DuPage County (but not Aurora or Bolingbrook), single-family or attached (no multifamily), and to pass a DuPage County Housing Quality Standards inspection. IHDA follows federal purchase price limits for DuPage/Will County.
Reserve your assistance funds. DPA is reserved by your lender after pre-approval and before contract on a first-come, first-served basis.
Close on your home. DPA and second mortgages are applied at closing. Confirm lien filings and final numbers with your lender and closing attorney before signing.