$5,000 First-time Home Buyer Grant

Map of Pennsylvania by countyMany counties and towns in Pennsylvania provide special financing and grants to first-time homebuyers and purchasers whose income is at or below the median income level. Some counties offer down payment and closing-cost assistance grants. Here are a few programs that I've found. If you are aware of a first-time home buyer program that is not featured (or if you can update the information), please send me an Email.

Adams County

Adams County closing-cost Assistance Program - Eligible home-buyers are able to obtain a low-interest loan from $2,000 to $7,000.

Allegheny County

Except for Pittsburgh residents, all Allegheny County residents who meet income criteria are eligible. As a minimum, a 3.5 percent down payment is required.
Up to $5,000 in down payment and closing-cost assistance is available to eligible borrowers earning up to 100 percent of the area median income. 

- City of Pittsburgh

The City of Pittsburgh provides low-interest-rate home-loans for the purchase of new or existing homes (in move-in condition) located in the City of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Home Ownership Program - PHOP. Down payment and closing-cost assistance grant money is available to all eligible home-buyers.

Armstrong County

Beaver County

Qualified First Time Home Buyers will be eligible to receive a subordinated (2nd) mortgage up to a maximum of $3,500 for their down payment and or closing-costs.

Bedford County

Berks County

Closing-cost assistance loan program for qualified low and moderate-income families who have been approved for FHA first mortgage financing to buy a house in Berks County, including Reading.

Blair County

Bradford County

Homeownership Program – This program is available in Bradford and Susquehanna counties for First Time Home Buyers.

Bucks County

Bucks County offers a zero-interest loan for eligible home-buyers for down payment and closing-cost assistance. The maximum assistance loan is $10,000.

Butler County
Cambria County
Cameron County
Carbon County

Centre County

The Centre County Housing Trust Fund will be used to assist the home-buyer with down payment assistance. A maximum of $10,000, or 10% of the purchase price (whichever is less).

- State College

The State College First Time Home Buyer (FTHB) program assists both moderate and low-income families with mortgage and closing-cost assistance.

Chester County

Chester County has a terrific program for First Time Home Buyers; possibly the best closing-cost assistance program in the state. The maximum loan of $10,000 for the purchase of a home in a Chester County township and $12,500 for the purchase of a home in the City of Coatesville or in a Chester County borough

Clarion County
Clearfield County

Clinton County

Clinton County provides a First Time Home Buyers-closing-cost Assistance Program to promote homeownership opportunities for county residents.

Columbia County

Columbia County Housing Authority offers a down payment and closing-cost assistance Program for eligible low and moderate income First Time Home Buyers who want to purchase homes in the Columbia County.

Crawford County

Cumberland County

The Cumberland County First Time Home Buyers’ down payment and closing-cost assistance program provides eligible home-buyers with up to $3,000 in assistance to purchase homes in Cumberland County.

Dauphin County

Did you know that Dauphin County provides down payment and or closing-cost assistance up to $3,000 to eligible first-time buyers of Dauphin County homes?

- Upper Darby Township

Upper Darby Township First Time Home Buyer program offers a maximum of $6,000.00 for closing payment assistance to qualified buyers.

Delaware County

To qualified first-time home purchasers, the Homeownership First Program offers counseling as well as up to $5,000 in down payment and closing expenses.

Elk County
Erie County
Fayette County
Forest County
Franklin County
Fulton County
Greene County

Huntingdon County

- Smithfield Township

The maximum amount of assistance available per buyer is $5,000 for closing-costs and half of their down payment expenses.

Indiana County
Jefferson County
Juniata County

Lackawanna County

The program offers down payment subsidy of up to 15% (not to exceed $18,000) of the mortgaged loan with a minimum of 5% (verified) required from home-buyer(s) assets.

- City of Scranton

The City of Scranton First-Time Homebuyer Program offers money in the form of a forgiving, deferred-payment loan to income-eligible first-time homebuyers who want to buy a property in Scranton.

Lancaster County

Lancaster County offers eligible First Time Home Buyers a down payment and closing-cost assistance loan of 8% of the sales price up to a maximum of $5,000.00.

Lawrence County
Lebanon County
Lehigh County
Luzerne County
Lycoming County

- City of Williamsport

The City offers home-buyer assistance to help income-eligible households to become homeowners in the City of Williamsport.

McKean County
Mercer County
Mifflin County
Monroe County

Montgomery County

Eligible participants may receive assistance with closing-costs up to 8% of the sales price, and if your income is below 80% of the median income (see below), the Montgomery county will chip in an additional 2% toward the down payment for a total assistance of 10% of the sales price.

Montour County

The Monroe County First Time Home Buyers Program offers a second mortgage up to a maximum of $5,000 or 10% of the purchase price, (whichever is less).

Northampton County

The Northampton County First Time Home Buyer Program provides loans to eligible first-time buyers of Northampton County homes.

Northumberland County
Perry County
Philadelphia County
Pike County
Potter County
Schuylkill County
Snyder County
Somerset County
Sullivan County
Susquehanna County
Tioga County

Union County

Union County offers eligible home-buyers with be $10,000 or 10% of the purchase price for a down payment and or closing-cost assistance. The total amount of any loan shall not exceed $10,000.

Venango County

The Venango County First Time Home Buyer Program
The program provides eligible applicants with a closing-costs or down payment assistance loan of up to $5,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less.
Warren County

Washington County

The Redevelopment Authority of Washington County has established the USDA closing-cost Assistance Program to assist first-time, low income, home-buyers in attaining their goal of home ownership by providing financial assistance.

Wayne County
Westmoreland County

York County

The County of York and City of York provide closing-cost and down payment assistance to First Time Home Buyers.

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