Loan programs in Chicago
DSCR Loans in Chicago
A DSCR loan is an investment-property mortgage that qualifies you on the property’s rental income divided by its monthly payment (the debt service coverage ratio).
InvestorFix and Flip Loans in Chicago
A fix and flip loan is short-term (usually 12–18 months), interest-only financing that covers most of a distressed property’s purchase price and up to 100% of renovation costs, repaid when you sell or refinance.
InvestorDSCR Cash-Out Refinance in Chicago
A DSCR cash-out refinance replaces the loan on a rental with a larger one, sized to the property’s value and qualified on its rent, and pays you the difference in cash.
InvestorShort-Term Rental (Airbnb) DSCR Loans in Chicago
A short-term rental DSCR loan qualifies a vacation rental on its nightly-rental income, using 12 months of booking history or a third-party projection such as AirDNA, instead of a long-term lease.
Home loanBank Statement Loans in Chicago
A bank statement loan is a non-QM mortgage that calculates self-employed income from 12 or 24 months of personal or business bank deposits instead of tax returns.
Home loanFHA Loans in Chicago
An FHA loan is a government-insured mortgage that allows 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher, or 10% down with a score from 500 to 579.
Home loanFirst-Time Homebuyer Loans in Chicago
First-time homebuyer loans are mortgage options with low down payments, typically 3% conventional, 3.5% FHA or $0 VA, often paired with state or local down payment assistance.
Home loanVA Loans in Chicago
A VA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that lets eligible veterans, active-duty service members and certain surviving spouses buy with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance.
Home loanCondo Loans in Chicago
A condo loan is a mortgage on a unit in a condominium project, and approval depends on the building as well as the buyer.
Why borrowers look at Chicago
Housing in Chicago (Cook County) skews toward established neighborhoods with a mix of older and newer stock. For investors, the play is the same as across Cook County: verify rents against the payment with a DSCR calculation before writing an offer, and confirm insurance costs early. Chicago and Cook County add their own transfer taxes on top of the state rate, a meaningful cost on flips.
Local market snapshot: Chicago
| Median home value | $263,300Illinois (statewide) · Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,274/moIllinois (statewide) · Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
| Effective property tax rate | 2.07% (approx.)Illinois (statewide effective, approx.) · Source: Tax Foundation |
Homeowners insurance: Severe thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes downstate; Chicago winters bring freeze and ice-dam claims.
Figures are the most local reliable public data available (city, then county, then statewide), each labeled above. They are context for your payment estimate, not a quote, run your scenario through our payment calculator.
Before you buy or refinance in Chicago
- Pull the Cook County property tax bill early; it is part of every payment and DSCR calculation.
- Get an insurance quote before you lock a price.
- For rentals, check rent comps and any local rental registration or short-term rental rules in Chicago.
- Chicago and Cook County add their own transfer taxes on top of the state rate, a meaningful cost on flips.
Run the numbers
- DSCR Calculator
- Fix and Flip Profit Calculator
- Mortgage Payment Calculator
- Home Affordability Calculator
Other Illinois cities
- Rockford
- Springfield
- Peoria
- Aurora
- Joliet
- Naperville
- Elgin
- Waukegan
- Champaign
- Cicero
- Schaumburg
- Evanston
- Arlington Heights
- Bolingbrook
- Decatur
- Palatine
- Skokie
- Des Plaines
- Oak Lawn
- Orland Park
- Bloomington
- Berwyn
- Mount Prospect
- Tinley Park
- Plainfield
- Oak Park
- Wheaton
- Hoffman Estates
- Normal
- Downers Grove
FAQ
What loans can I get in Chicago, IL?
Investor loans (DSCR, fix and flip, cash-out, short-term rental) and owner-occupied home loans (bank statement, FHA, VA, conventional and more).
Who assesses property taxes in Chicago?
Cook County. Lenders include those taxes in the monthly payment used to qualify you.