Buying a home in Illinois
Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in Illinois.
For home buyers in Illinois: the taxes and typical costs of buying, with official sources.
At Illinois's effective rate of 2.01%, a typical $295,943 home would owe about $5,948/year ($496/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.
Illinois Housing Development Authority
Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit Illinois Housing Development Authority →
Next steps
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-11-01.
Common questions
What is the property tax rate in Illinois?
The effective property tax rate in Illinois is 2.01%: the median tax of $5,298 divided by the median home value of $263,300 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024).
What is a typical home value in Illinois?
$295,943 in September 2026, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.
Does Illinois have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. The state transfer tax is 0.1% of the price, usually paid by the seller.
Who offers first-time homebuyer help in Illinois?
Illinois Housing Development Authority, the state housing finance agency, offers down payment assistance and lower-rate loans for eligible buyers.
Updated . Official sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, Zillow Research ZHVI.
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