Our Own Home was established in 2002 to help Illinois residents buy a home or keep their existing homes from going into foreclosure. Since that time, over $23.8 million in loans to more than 380 families have been processed.

Our Own Home helps borrowers purchase a home or refinance a mortgage if they are facing certain financial hardships due to circumstances beyond their control and show that there is likelihood that they will be able to resume making payments again. The free program is designed for those who are close to securing a conventional, affordable mortgage but due to some factor, such as bruised credit, lack of down payment or a high debt-to-income ratio, are not quite there.

Our Own Home provides lenders with extra security on mortgages they might otherwise reject. The Treasurer’s Office guarantees 10 percent of each loan amount for the first five years of the mortgage. Should there ever be a default, this ensures that a lender recovers at least part of its investment. 

If you have questions, please e-mail info@ourownhome.net or call (312) 814-11899 or (888) 803-4663.

Program Eligibility:

Purchase

• Your combined household income may not exceed $75,000.
• You must be an Illinois citizen and documented taxpayer.
• The home must be a one to four unit owner occupied property serving as your primary residence.
• The price of the home you are looking to buy must be at or below the program’s median home value.
• You must be unable to meet your lender’s conventional mortgage guidelines. Your lender will make this determination when you apply for your mortgage.

Refinance

• Your combined household income may not exceed $75,000.
• You must be an Illinois citizen and documented taxpayer.
• The home must be a one to four unit owner occupied property serving as your primary residence.
• The price of the home you are looking to buy must be at or below the program’s median home value.
• You must currently be behind on your mortgage due to one or more of the following circumstances beyond your control:

1. Loss, reduction or delay in the receipt of income because of the death or disability of a person who contributed to the household income;
2. Expenses actually incurred related to uninsured damage or costly repairs to the mortgaged premises affecting its habitability;
3. Expenses related to the death or illness in the borrower’s household or of family members living outside the household that reduce the amount of household income;
4. Loss of income or a substantial increase in total housing expenses because of divorce, abandonment, separation from a spouse, or failure to support a spouse or child;
5. Unemployment or underemployment; or
6. Loss, reduction, or delay in the receipt of federal, State or other government benefits, participation by the homeowner in a recognized labor action such as a strike.

• You must show a reasonable ability to be able to repay the loan.
• You must be unable to meet your lender’s conventional mortgage guidelines. Your lender will make this determination when you apply for your mortgage.

How to Apply:

1. Contact the Treasurer’s Office for an overview of the program.
2. Call a loan officer at one or more of the program’s participating financial institutions  to see if you may qualify.
3. If you qualify, meet with the loan officer to secure a loan that fits your specific situation.
4. Read over the Our Own Home program application with your lender to ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of your loan. 
5. Your financial institution will submit a completed program application on your behalf.
6. Your program application will be reviewed by our Bank Administrator and if approved sent to the Our Own Home division for review.  The review period takes approximately five business days.
7. You will be notified by your financial institution if approved.

Preparing for Homeownership:

• Read our guide to Understanding Homeownership as well as the mortgage glossary before speaking with your lender.
• Schedule an appointment with a HUD certified counselor to review any questions that you may have regarding the mortgage process.
• Always take the time to read and understand the terms and conditions of your mortgage prior to closing on the loan.  

Personal Experience:

Barbara Yerly and her sons stand on their doorstep with Our Own Home Director Ben Noven.

When Barbara Yerly rented a home in Dalzell, Ill., she lived with the fear that her landlord would force her to uproot her three sons and relocate.

“There was always the chance of the landlord selling the house and forcing us to move,” Yerly said. “We really love the neighborhood. We live a block away from the grade school, and living anywhere else would have been a culture shock.”

To bring comfort and stability to her household, Yerly decided to pursue her dream of home ownership. She is among the 300 individual and families with limited credit history who’ve purchased homes thanks to the Treasurer’s Our Own Home program.

“I didn’t have a solid work history on paper so I didn’t think my chances for a mortgage were very good,” Yerly said. “I was pleasantly surprised when the loan officer told me that I would qualify for a mortgage backed by the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office.”