The Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) supports the City of Philadelphia’s Philly First Home program. The program offers a home buyer assistance grant of up to $10,000 (or 6% of the purchase price, whichever is less) to help first-time home buyers.
This grant is to assist with down payment and/or closing costs. Grants will be provided while funding is available. If you move or refinance before living in the home for 15 years, the grant must be repaid.
Who
To be eligible for the grant, you must:
- Be a first-time home buyer or a buyer who has not owned a home for at least three years.
- Purchase a single-family home or duplex in Philadelphia (condominiums are not eligible).
Requirements
To qualify for the Philly First Home Program, you must complete a City-funded home ownership counseling program. You must complete this program before you sign an agreement of sale. Your agreement of sale must be signed by the homebuyer and seller after completing housing counseling.
Home ownership counseling prepares borrowers for this big life decision. You will learn about:
- Buying a home within your budget.
- Avoiding dangerous mortgages.
- Rights and responsibilities of homeowners.
- Mortgage application/purchase processes.
- Improving credit, credit repair, and maintenance.
- Money management.
- Home maintenance.
- Avoiding foreclosure.
- Deeds and other legal housing documents.
You must also meet certain income requirements. View the current income guidelines.
How
Contact a City-funded housing counseling agency to learn more. They will need:
- Your total annual household income.
- The source of that income (employment, SSI, DPA, etc.).
- The number of people in your family.