See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 15, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Streamwood, IL (2026)
Streamwood is a northwest Chicago suburb in Cook County with about 38,000 residents and a median home price around $325,000. The Village of Streamwood does not administer its own homebuyer program, so buyers rely on Cook County and statewide Illinois programs. Cook County's Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $25,000 (5% of sale price) as a forgivable second loan for both first-time and repeat buyers — but has exhausted funding in past cycles, so verify availability before building an offer around it. IHDA's full suite stacks on top: IHDA Access Forgivable (4% up to $6,000), IHDA Access Repayable (10% up to $10,000 zero-interest), IHDA SmartBuy ($5,000 DPA plus up to $40,000 toward student loan payoff), the Mortgage Credit Certificate, and the FHLBank Chicago Downpayment Plus grant (up to $10,000). Regional counseling through North West Housing Partnership in nearby Schaumburg provides HUD-approved education and program navigation for the northwest Chicago suburbs, including Streamwood.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West Housing Partnership (NWHP) | Grant | Down payment assistance plus free homebuyer education (amount varies) | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Down payment assistance plus free homebuyer education (amount varies)
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. Cook County DPA allows income up to 120% AMI (about $143,880 for a family of four) and requires a 620 minimum credit score. IHDA programs typically target 80-100% AMI. Pull recent tax returns, pay stubs, and a current credit report.
Complete HUD-approved homebuyer education. North West Housing Partnership (NWHP) at 1699 E Woodfield Road, Suite 404, Schaumburg, 847-969-0561, provides HUD-approved classes and certificates accepted by most IHDA lenders. Online options like eHomeAmerica and Framework also satisfy the requirement.
Confirm Cook County DPA funding is currently open before relying on the $25,000 layer. Status is posted at club720.org/cookcounty-dpa.
Get pre-approved with an IHDA-participating lender. IHDA's approved lender list is at ihda.org. Your lender coordinates Cook County DPA, IHDA layers, MCC tax credits, and FHLBank Chicago DPP grants.
Find a home within program limits. IHDA sets Cook County purchase price caps (typically $500,000-$600,000), well above Streamwood's $325,000 median, so most homes qualify.
Submit your offer. Your lender coordinates the stacked financing so everything closes together.
Close and move in. Plan a 45-60 day timeline from contract to close with layered assistance.