Skip to Content

First Time Home Buyer in PA? Here’s What We Found!

First Time Home Buyer in PA? Here’s What We Found!

Many low-income families might not think they’re able to purchase a home because it’s hard to do it with low-income. The thing is, buying a home doesn’t have to be hard and sometimes doesn’t take tons of money up front. If you want to be a first time home buyer in PA, this article is for you!

Get more help buying a house with low income here!

Down payment assistance programs are available if you’re a first time home buyer in PA.

The PA Housing Finance Agency might be able to help you with down payment and closing cost assistance if you’re a first time home buyer in PA. The program provides help for people who meet income requirements and other requirements set by them. They could also help with buyer education and counseling programs you can use to obtain financing. They work specifically with people who have low income and/or less than perfect credit.

Are you in an area of PA that’s designated rural by the USDA? A huge portion of PA is rural and that’s good news for you! If you’re in one of the areas the USDA deems rural in PA, you could get help with a zero-down loan from the USDA. These loans are backed by the USDA and could help you get into your first home for no money down!

Here are programs if you’re a first time home buyer in PA.

In addition to providing help with education, counseling and down payments, the PHFA could also help you if you’re a first time home buyer in PA who needs financing. They have access to lower rates, could help you with a non-traditional loan and could make buying your home so much easier. You can do almost everything you need through PHFA to get into your first home.

Need help with a home but don’t have the money? If you’re very low-income or if you’re struggling with affordable housing, you might be able to get help through the Habitat for Humanity. Keep in mind many areas of PA have waiting lists for Habitat. You will also have to put in sweat equity to get into the home and to get the affordable mortgage with the company.

If you find a home you love, but it needs a little bit of love, the USDA might be able to help. As long as the home is in a rural area and you meet other requirements, you might be able to roll in repair amounts to your USDA loan. These amounts can be up to $20,000 that you’ll have to pay back or up to $7,500 that you won’t have to pay back.

An FHA loan could help you if you’re a first time home buyer in PA. It’s one of the most popular options for first time home buyers. These loans come with lower credit requirements, great rates and they’re backed by guarantees. You could get help with these loans with very few requirements.

We found programs for veterans & military.

If you’re a member of the military or you’re a veteran, you could get a loan that’s backed by the VA. These loans are often better than other financing if you’re a first time home buyer in PA. You may be able to qualify with a lower credit score, get better rates and even have a lower down payment amount.

Your county might help you if you’re a first time home buyer in PA.

There are options available for people who are trying to buy homes throughout PA. If you’re a first time home buyer in PA, your county might be able to help you with down payments, financing and even finding a home!

Allegheny County

Residents of Allegheny County could get help with programs available for buyers. The programs that are available could help you with a variety of things like rates, closing costs and even your down payment. Allegheny County’s housing division might also be able to provide help if you’re a first time home buyer in need of emergency assistance for affordable housing.

If you’re in Pittsburgh, you might also be able to get help with home buyer loans. First time home buyers could get access to lower rates and loans with a lower credit score than traditional loans.

Beaver County

The community development block grant from Beaver County might make it easier for you to purchase a home and get the affordable options you need. You could also get help through the Home Investment Partnership Act. Check out everything Beaver County has available if you’re a first time home buyer in PA.

Berks County

Do you want to purchase a home in Berks County? Good news! You could get help with home buyer education, counseling and first mortgage resources. Residents of Berks County might also be able to get help with down payment assistance and closing costs. You could qualify for a closing assistance loan and so much more through the county!

Are you a first time home buyer in PA looking for a home in Reading? You might be able to find help with home ownership assistance through the investment partnership program. The city offers resources for people who want to buy a home and qualify for help through their program.

Bucks County

If you’re in Bucks County looking for a home, you might be able to find it through the Bucks County Housing Link. They could provide some first-time home buyer help that might make it easier for you to get the kind of home you want. They may also be able to direct you to other resources if they’re unable to help with your housing needs directly.

Centre County

First time home buyer in PA trying to find a house in State College? You might have options available. There are programs available including the HOME program and the Community Development Block Grants. State College may also be able to provide some housing down payment assistance for people who qualify.

Chester County

Chester County offers help for affordable housing for those who qualify. As the affordable housing development corporation, they might be able to provide more people with help in Chester County so they can get assistance getting into a new house even if they don’t qualify for help through the USDA.

Cumberland County

If you’re purchasing a home in Cumberland County, you could get help through the Housing Trust Fund. The program might be able to provide up to $3,000 in assistance for people who are between 80 and 100% of the median income. If you’re less than 80% of the median income for Cumberland County, you could get help with up to $5,000. Many areas of Cumberland County also qualify for USDA including the main areas in Carlisle!

Dauphin County

The Home Investment Partnership through Dauphin County might be able to help if you’re a first time home buyer in PA. You might be able to qualify for help through the programs the county offers so you can get assistance purchasing your home.

Even if you’re in Harrisburg and do not qualify for help through the USDA, you could get help from the redevelopment department. They might be able to help you find a home, find financing and find help with down payment assistance.

Delaware County

Do you want to purchase a home in Delaware County? You could get help through the block grant offered by the county. You may be able to qualify for even more help if you’re currently in a situation where you’re living somewhere that doesn’t have suitable living conditions.

Programs are available in Upper Darby that could help you if you’re a first time home buyer in PA. The community development block grant could help you with home loans and down payment assistance. They may also be able to help you with closing costs.

Erie County

If you’re in Erie County and want to purchase a home, you might be able to do it through their stabilization program. You could get help through the HOME partnership program or even the community development block grant. There are different options available for residents of Erie and for people who want to purchase their first home in Erie.

Lackawanna County

Buying a home in Scranton might be easier using the community options available for first time home buyers. Like many other cities in PA, Scranton also offers help with CDBG and HOME partnerships for residents and first time home buyers who qualify. You can use these programs in addition to other programs to make buying a home as easy and cheap as possible!

Lancaster County

If you’re in Lancaster County, you might be able to get home buyer education, counseling and down payment assistance. The county offers a variety of resources that could make it easier to purchase a home and learn more about purchasing a home. You might need to meet certain requirements for down payment assistance, but almost everyone qualifies for the homebuyer education program in Lancaster County.

If you’re in the city of Lancaster, you might be able to get additional help. The city offers programs like the community redevelopment program that could help you access a better home. It might be able to help you save money toward your down payment and other resources depending on what you qualify for.


Lehigh County

If you’re in Allentown looking for a first time mortgage, you might be able to get help through the city. While they do not have any official programs, they are listed on HUD’s program list and might be able to offer you help in different situations.

Luzerne County

Buying a home in the city of Wilkes-Barre? You might be able to get help with that! The city offers community development block grants and HOME partnership assistance for home buyers who qualify. You might also be able to learn more about home buying assistance programs in the city available for people who meet certain requirements.

Lycoming County

The Williamsport Community Development branch might be able to help you with home development assistance. The program works for people who qualify and might be able to help you save money when you’re purchasing a home. It might also make it easier for you to buy a home even if you have low income.

Montgomery County

If you’re in Montgomery County, you could get help with home buyer programs. The county might be able to provide you with up to 10% of the sales price in assistance. It could also make it easier for you to purchase your home through their other assistance programs. You’ll need to meet certain requirements to qualify for this program through the county.

Philadelphia County

Are you a first time home buyer in PA looking for a house in Philadelphia? You could get help through the Housing Development Corporation! This branch offers a variety of programs that might make it easier for you to purchase a home even if you don’t have great credit or you have very low income. You could save money buying a home through this program.

Washington County

The Washington County Elderly Housing program could help those who are elderly or with disabilities find a home. The act might be able to help with rental resources in addition to home purchase options for those who are unable to find and secure housing help on their own.

Westmoreland County

If you’re in Westmoreland County, you could get help with the HOME program. This is a home investment partnership program that works throughout PA for people who qualify. It could help you save money when buying a home and might even be the difference between being able to buy and not being able to buy a home in PA.

York County

The homebuyer education and down payment assistance programs for York County are the same as the ones available in Lancaster County. The two counties teamed up to offer assistance to people throughout both counties. You might be able to get help learning more about the home buying process and what it means to be a first time home buyer in PA before securing down payment assistance!

If you’re in the city of York, you could get help through the York Housing Authority. The programs the authority offers could help you secure safe, affordable and comfortable housing.

Serious about buying a house? Don’t miss these other resources!

Get more free stuff in PA!