Guides · Chicago mortgage financing

Chicago Mortgage Guides

Plain-language guides to the financing situations Chicago buyers and homeowners actually run into — written by Kyle Gillespie, SVP of Mortgage Lending at OriginPoint (a Rate company), NMLS #223778, with 20+ years closing loans in this market. Each guide leads with the answer, stays specific to Chicago, and is reviewed for currency.

Ready to run your numbers? Call (773) 435-7939 or start your pre-approval at KyleGillespie.com.

Chicago Condo Associations and the 15% Reserve Rule: What to Check Before January 4, 2027Published October 2026 — The 10% to 15% condo reserve allocation change for loan applications on or after January 4, 2027, and what boards, buyers, and sellers should check now.
Bank-Statement Loans for Chicago Business Owners: An Alternative Way to Document IncomePublished October 2026 — How deposits become qualifying income, documents that may be required, and how bank-statement loans compare with conventional self-employed financing.
Buying a $1.5 Million or Higher-Priced Home in Lincoln Park or Winnetka: Jumbo Financing Step by StepPublished October 2026 — Down payment, documentation and reserves, property review, Cook County taxes and closing costs, and the closing timeline for jumbo purchases in Lincoln Park and Winnetka.
Fannie Mae's August 2026 Condo Rules: What Changed for Chicago Buyers, Sellers, and BoardsPublished September 2026 — Limited Review is gone and Full Review is universal for buildings over 10 units: what it means in Chicago and what buyers, sellers, and boards should do.
Financing a Non-Warrantable Condo in Chicago: What Actually Works in 2026Published July 2026 · Reviewed September 2026 — Why Chicago buildings go non-warrantable and how portfolio and non-QM programs finance them.
Chicago Condo Mortgages: Why Your Loan Got Denied on the Building, Not YouPublished July 2026 · Reviewed September 2026 — How the condo project review works and how to catch a building problem before you are under contract.
Chicago Refinance FAQ: The Questions Every Homeowner AsksPublished July 2026 · Reviewed September 2026 — Costs, break-even math, credit impact, appraisals, timelines, and escrow refunds, answered directly.
Jumbo Loan Limits in Chicago 2026: What Counts as Jumbo on the North SidePublished September 2026 — What counts as a jumbo loan in Chicago in 2026 and how higher-balance financing works on the North Side.

All information provided in this publication is for informational and educational purposes only, and in no way is any of the content contained herein to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice or instruction. OriginPoint does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error-free. Some information in the publication may have been provided by third parties and has not necessarily been verified by OriginPoint. OriginPoint its affiliates and subsidiaries do not assume any liability for the information contained herein, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, or exemplary, or other damages whatsoever and howsoever caused, arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication or in reliance on the information, including any personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or other tortious action.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Refinancing your mortgage may increase costs over the term of your loan. Restrictions may apply.

No mortgage loan applications for properties located in New York will be accepted through this site. This site is informational and educational only and is not financial, investment, or legal advice, nor a commitment to lend.

Equal Housing Lender. Kyle Gillespie, NMLS #223778. OriginPoint LLC, NMLS #2185899. Operating in the state of California as OriginPoint Mortgage LLC in lieu of the legal name OriginPoint LLC. For licensing information visit www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.