FROM THE CHIEF COUNTY ASSESSMENT OFFICER 

RECOMMENDED STEPS TO FOLLOW PRIOR TO APPEAL

Cuba Township Assessor - Rebecca Tonigan, 847-381-1120

Ela Township Assessor - John Barrington, 847-438-8370

A few questions to ask yourself?

• Do they have the correct information regarding property, i.e (square footage, number of bathrooms, lot size, fire place, finished basement)
• Are there comparable sales that make you feel you are incorrectly assessed?
• Have you recently purchased your home and your assessment valuation reflects a market value higher than your purchase price?

EMERGENCY LOANS

Emergency Forgivable Loans of up to $25,000 for Families Facing Foreclosure

The Illinois Hardest Hit Fund offers families facing foreclosure some much-needed breathing room while they get back on their feet. Eligible Lake County residents may receive up to $25,000 to help bring their mortgage current, and to assist with ongoing monthly payments for up to 18 months. Eligibility criteria can be found online at

https://www.illinoishardesthit.org, the official website of the program. Lake County residents will work with the Affordable Housing Corporation of Lake County (AHC), a HUD-certified nonprofit agency, to receive free guidance and loan coordination services. AHC also offers information sessions and other helpful information at 847/263-7478 and www.ahclc.org. There is no cost to apply. Illinois anticipates assisting about 15,000 households. Don't delay in applying, as applications will be processed on a first come first serve basis.

Illinois Hardest Hit Fund

Emergency Forgivable Loans of up to $25,000 for Families Facing Foreclosure

The State of Illinois and the U.S. Department of the Treasury are working together to assist 15,000 Illinois homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage. The Illinois Hardest Hit Fund will provide families facing foreclosure with some much-needed breathing room while they get back on their feet.

In Lake County, residents will be working with the Affordable Housing Corporation of Lake County, a nonprofit HUD-certified agency, to obtain free guidance and loan coordination services.

Eligible participants of the Illinois Hardest Hit Fund may receive up to $25,000 as a 10-year loan to bring their mortgage current, and to assist with ongoing monthly payments for up to 18 months. The loan is forgiven over the last 5 years of the 10-year term, and carries no interest. Eligibility criteria includes, but is not limited to:

• Household has experienced a 25% reduction in income due to unemployment or under- employment through no fault of their own
• Gross household income does not exceed 120% of area median income ($89,750 for a family of four)
• Principal loan balance is less than $500,000
• Household liquid assets do not exceed 3 months mortgage payment
• Property must be located in Illinois, may be a 1-4 unit building, and must be the primary and only residence of all borrowers/owners
• Homeowners must have a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan; interest-only and negative amortization loan not allowed
• Delinquency and necessary assistance may not exceed $25,000
• Applicants have not been convicted of a mortgage-related felony in the last 10 years

To begin, applicants must log onto https://www.illinoishardesthit.org, the official and only website of the program. There is no fee to apply. Homeowners are encouraged to be aware of the prevalence of mortgage assistance fraud; no genuine assistance program requires a fee.

Applicants are also encouraged to attend an information session at the Affordable Housing Corporation of Lake County by contacting www.ahclc.org or 847/263-7478. This will help homeowners better understand the program, and assist them in submitting their application package properly so as to avoid delays.