IHDA Income Limits, Effective July 1, 2026
Program and regulatory figures verified September 25, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Four ladders, not one. Which one applies to you depends on your county, your program and, for the largest program, how many people live in the house.
The general ladder, non-targeted areas
This is the limit that governs IHDAccess Repayable, Deferred and Forgivable. It does not vary by household size at all, which is unusual and works in favour of larger families.
| County group | Income limit, any household size |
|---|---|
| Kendall | $190,120 |
| Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will | $170,100 |
| Grundy, McLean | $166,320 |
| Menard, Sangamon | $160,860 |
| Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair | $158,900 |
| All other counties, 85 of them | $157,640 |
Kendall sitting above Cook surprises most people. It is the highest income limit in the state, $20,020 clear of the Chicago collar group, and it is a single county on its own tier.
The IHDAccess Home ladder
The 6% program runs its own limits, and they are the reason many households cannot use the largest assistance.
| County group | 1-2 people | 3 or more |
|---|---|---|
| Kendall | $135,800 | $156,170 |
| Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will | $121,500 | $139,725 |
| Grundy, McLean | $118,800 | $136,620 |
| Menard, Sangamon | $114,900 | $132,135 |
| Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair | $113,500 | $130,525 |
| All other counties | $112,600 | $129,490 |
Compare the two tables for the same county and the trade becomes obvious. A Cook County couple has $170,100 of room on the general programs and $121,500 on AccessHome. The gap of $48,600 is what the extra assistance costs in eligibility.
The targeted ladder
In a targeted area the general limit is unchanged. What rises is AccessHome, and it rises hard.
| County group | General | AccessHome, 1-2 | AccessHome, 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook, Kane, Lake, Will | $170,100 | $145,800 | $170,100 |
| McLean | $166,320 | $142,560 | $166,320 |
| Sangamon | $160,860 | $137,880 | $160,860 |
| Madison, St. Clair | $158,900 | $136,200 | $158,900 |
| All other counties, 40 of them | $157,640 | $135,120 | $157,640 |
For a household of three or more in a targeted area, the AccessHome limit rises to meet the general limit exactly. The tighter ladder disappears. What else targeted status does.
How the income itself is measured
Household income means the total income of any person expected to live in the home and be liable, or secondarily liable, on the note. IHDA's calculator is required on every file, and must be completed, signed and dated. The test is applied against the limit in effect at the time of loan closing.
IHDA notes on the limit sheet that some of these figures were determined by an IRS Private Letter Ruling issued to the Authority, and that they may be used only with IHDA Mortgage programs. The current sheets are published under IHDA income and purchase price limits.
See also the full eligibility test and why adding an earner backfires.
Frequently asked questions
What is the income limit for down payment assistance in Illinois?
Effective 7-1-2026, the general limit for IHDAccess Repayable, Deferred and Forgivable is $170,100 in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, $190,120 in Kendall, $166,320 in Grundy and McLean, $160,860 in Menard and Sangamon, $158,900 in the Metro East group, and $157,640 across the other 85 counties. That limit applies to any household size. IHDAccess Home uses separate, lower limits that vary by household size.
Which Illinois county has the highest IHDA income limit?
Kendall County, at $190,120 for the general programs effective 7-1-2026. That is $20,020 above the $170,100 limit that applies in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will. Kendall sits on its own tier in IHDA's table rather than being grouped with the other collar counties.
Why is the IHDAccess Home income limit lower than the others?
IHDAccess Home is the first-time-homebuyer program and IHDA sets separate limits for it based on household size, while the general limit applies to any household size. In Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will the AccessHome limit is $121,500 for one or two people and $139,725 for three or more, against $170,100 for the other three programs. The largest assistance carries the smallest income limit.
Does buying in a targeted area raise the Illinois income limit?
It raises the IHDAccess Home limit rather than the general one. In Cook the AccessHome limit for one or two people rises from $121,500 to $145,800, a gain of $24,300. For a household of three or more in a targeted area, the AccessHome limit rises to equal the general limit, so in Cook both become $170,100. A targeted address also waives the first-time homebuyer requirement.
Is IHDA income measured at application or at closing?
At closing. The guide states the borrower must have a total household income that does not exceed the applicable limit in effect at the time of loan closing. Household income is defined as the total income of any person expected to live in the qualified dwelling and be liable, or secondarily liable, on the note, and IHDA's own income calculator is required to complete the calculation on every file.
Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content about financing, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. IHDA program terms, income limits and purchase price limits are set by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and change; figures here carry the date we verified them and IHDA's own disclaimer applies, that funding and availability are subject to change and are not guaranteed until a complete reservation is placed. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualification.