Trade Tools: Click on a County, Find a Service

New interactive map for homebuyer counseling, grants and legal aid. 

Affordable Housing Resources Map
Find affordable housing resources all in one place with this interactive map provided by the Illinois Association of REALTORS and its foundation, the Partnership for HomeOwnership. Search by Illinois county for grants, assistance funds, HUD-approved counselors and legal assistance organizations, senior services and energy assistance programs.

Affordable Housing Toolkit  
Developed by IAR’s Advocacy Program, the Illinois Affordable Housing Toolkit identifies strategies for local governments to promote affordable housing development in Illinois communities, including providing financial assistance to homebuyers, identifying and reevaluating restrictive local zoning and land use development regulations, identifying federal and state resources available for housing programs, and adopting incentive programs to encourage development of new affordable housing. It can be found among the resources of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse. Please contact your local Governmental Affairs Director or Aimee Bick, ABick@iar.org for more information.

Mortgage Brochures for Consumers 
IAR offers the NAR series of easy-to-read brochures for free download or in packs of 50 (just shipping charges apply) from the REALTOR Store:

• “Are You Having Problems Paying Your Mortgage? Learn How to Avoid Foreclosure and Keep Your Home” covers risky mortgages that can lead to foreclosure and the benefits of using a REALTOR during the mortgage process. It also lists counseling resources for consumers, including credit reporting agencies and non-profit organizations.

• “Shopping For a Mortgage: How to Avoid Predatory Lending” identifies the warning signs of predatory loans. It also gives consumer tips on how to avoid them, including questions to ask when shopping for a loan.

• “Shopping For a Mortgage: Specialty Mortgages, What are the Risks and Advantages?” describes the risks and advantages consumers face with non-traditional mortgages, including interest-only, payment option ARM, and 40-year mortgages.

July 2008 Illinois REALTOR Magazine