The median home price in Illinois is $265,000, with a current 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.95%. A buyer putting 20% down on the median home would carry a loan of $212,000, resulting in a monthly principal and interest payment of $1,403. Once property taxes and insurance are added, total monthly housing costs reach $2,015.
Property taxes in Illinois average 2.27% — well above the national average of 1.1%. On the median Illinois home, that adds $501/month to your housing costs, which lenders factor directly into your debt-to-income ratio.
Illinois levies a state income tax of 4.95% flat, which affects take-home pay and therefore what you can realistically budget for housing. Mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and Illinois state returns — consult a tax professional for your situation.