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Housing Counseling Agencies
More than 30 housing counseling agencies offer free counseling services to first-time buyers of homes in the City of Philadelphia. Eligibility requirements apply.
What types of services are provided?
Professionally trained housing counselors at each agency conduct free group and individual counseling sessions on prepurchase topics such as:
- personal credit repair and credit maintenance;
- money management through budgeting;
- rights and responsibilities of homeowners;
- the mortgage application and purchase process;
- financial assistance programs;
- maintenance of the house.
Most housing counseling agencies offer free services after you buy a home including:
- mortgage delinquency and default counseling;
- foreclosure prevention and intervention counseling;
- identifying and avoiding predatory lending practices.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for free housing counseling, you must be buying a home for the first time. The house must be a single-family property located in Philadelphia in which you will live. You must apply before signing an agreement of sale. Your annual income cannot be more than the amount listed below for the number of people living in your household.
How do I apply?
Contact one of the housing counseling agencies listed below. Before you call, get the following information together so you can give it to the housing counselor:
- amount of total annual household income;
- source of that income (employment, SSI, DPA, etc.);
- number of people in your household
Income Eligibility Chart
-
Household
Size |
Maximum Annual
Household Income |
1 |
$41,600 |
2 |
$47,550 |
3 |
$53,500 |
4 |
$59,450 |
5 |
$64,200 |
6 |
$68,950 |
7 |
$73,700 |
8 |
$78,450 |
For households larger than eight, add $4,756 for each member.
(Income guidelines subject to change)
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Housing Counseling
Settlement Grants
Predatory Lending
American Dream Downpayment Initiative
Avoid Predatory Lending
If you are about to lose your home because you borrowed money call
Philadelphia Legal Assistance at
215-523-9520
they can help you determine if you were a victim of predatory lending.
If you are thinking about borrowing money to:
- purchase a home
- refinance your home
- fix-up your home
- pay property taxes
- consolidate debt
first call the number above for help or contact one of our housing counseling agencies, see list below.
Beware of the following tactics:
- lenders who call you: you should be the one to make the call
- lenders or contractors who show up at your door: you should be the one to seek them out
- lenders who offer low-interest loans, or quick approval
- lenders who ask for upfront fees: you may never receive the loan
- lenders who pressure you into signing quickly
- contracts with low monthly payments but a high balloon payment
- contracts with excessive fees and hidden costs
Before signing any loan document you have a legal right to know:
- the annual percentage rate
- the monthly payment
- the term of the loan (how long you have to payback the loan)
- the points and fees
- the total cost of the loan
Before you sign, receive housing counseling from one of our housing counseling agencies or call Philadelphia Legal Assistance at 215-523-9520. Remember: you have the right to terminate a loan within 3 business days of closing. Be sure this "right to rescind" is in your loan.
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ActionAIDS Inc.**
1216 Arch St., 6th Floor
Phila., PA 19107
215-981-0088
ACORN Housing Corp.
846 N. Broad St.
Phila., PA 19130
215-765-1221
Asociación Puertorriqueños
en Marcha (APM)
600 W. Diamond St.
Phila., PA 19122
215-235-6070
Carroll Park
Community Council†
5218 Master St.
Phila., PA 19131
215-877-1157
Center in the Park*
(Senior Center)
5818 Germantown Ave.
Phila., PA 19144
215-848-7722
Centro Pedro Claver
523 W. Erie Ave.
Phila., PA 19140
215-227-7111
Concilio
705-709 N. Franklin St.
Phila., PA 19123
215-627-3100
Congreso de Latinos
Unidos
216 W. Somerset St.
Phila., PA 19133
215-763-8870
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley
1608 Walnut St., 10th Floor
Phila., PA 19107
215-563-5665
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Diversified Community Services (Dixon House)
1920 S. 20th St.
Phila., PA 19145
215-336-3511
Hispanic Association of Contractors & Enterprises (HACE): Central Office
167 W. Allegheny Ave.
Suite 200
Phila., PA 19140
215-426-8025
HACE: Frankford Office
4620 Griscom St.
Phila., PA 19124
215-488-7007
Housing Association
of Delaware Valley Counseling Site Office
658 N. Watts St.
Phila., PA 19123
215-978-0224
Intercommunity Action*
(Senior Center)
6012 Ridge Ave.
Phila., PA 19128
215-487-0914
Intercultural Family Services
4225 Chestnut St.
Phila., PA 19104
215-386-1298
Korean Community Development Services Center†
6055 N. 5th St.
Phila., PA 19120
215-276-8830
Liberty Resources
714 Market St., Suite 100
Phila., PA 19106
215-634-2000
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Mt. Airy USA
6703 Germantown Ave.
Suite 200
Phila., PA 19119
215-844-6021
New Kensington CDC
2513-15 Frankford Ave.
Phila., PA 19125
215-427-0350 x 0
Norris Square Civic
Association
149 W. Susquehanna Ave.
Phila., PA 19122
215-426-8723
Northwest Counseling Service†
5001 N. Broad St.
Phila., PA 19141
215-324-7500
Nueva Esperanza
4261 N. 5th St.
Phila., PA 19140
215-324-0746
Philadelphia Council for Community Advancement
One Penn Center
1617 JFK Blvd., Suite 1550
Phila., PA 19103
215-567-7803
Philadelphia
Neighborhood Housing Services
5234 Chestnut St.
Phila., PA 19139
215-476-4205
Philadelphia Senior Center*
509 S. Broad St.
Phila., PA 19147
215-546-5879
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Southwest CDC
6328 Paschall Ave.
Phila., PA 19142
215-729-0800
Tenant Union
Representative Network**
1315 Walnut St.
3rd Floor
Phila., PA 19107
215-940-3900
The Partnership CDC
4020 Market St.
Suite 100
Phila., PA 19104
215-307-4917
Unemployment
Information Center*
1201 Chestnut St., Room 702
Phila., PA 19107
215-557-0822
United Communities Southeast Philadelphia†
2029 S. 8th St.
Phila., PA 19148
215-467-8700
Urban League of Philadelphia
121 S. Broad St.,
9th Floor
Phila., PA 19107
215-985-3220
West Oak Lane CDC
6259 Limekiln Pike
Phila., PA 19141
215-224-0880
Note: agencies subject to change
† Not wheelchair accessible
* No Settlement Grant counseling
** No Settlement Grant or anti-predatory lending counseling
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