Philadelphia County, PA First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help

Philadelphia County buyers can apply to 1 local down payment program, with help up to $10,000 through Philly First Home, on top of Pennsylvania's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.

Local programs in Philadelphia County

These are run by City of Philadelphia, separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.

Program	Type	Amount	Income limit	First-time only	Where
Philly First Home City of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), delivered via the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC)) · source	grant (repayable if requirements are not met)	Up to $10,000 or 6% of the purchase price, whichever is less	Set by DHCD's published income guidelines (varies by household size);	Yes	Single-family home or duplex within the City/County of Philadelphia;

Philly First Home. Must be a first-time buyer or not have owned a home in the last 3 years. Grant must be repaid if the buyer moves or refinances before living in the home 15 years.

Income limits in Philadelphia County

Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $122,700 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $98,150 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits

Pennsylvania statewide programs you can also use in Philadelphia County

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) (homebuyer programs page) runs 5 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Pennsylvania, with down payment help up to 5% of the price (about $15,425 on a median-priced home) through Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years Loan Program (K-FIT). Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.

Program	Type	Amount	First-time only	Min. credit	Income limit
PHFA Grant source	Grant (no repayment)	$500	Check	n/a	See program page
Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan Program source	Second mortgage	Lesser of 4% of the purchase price/market value or $6,000 (up to $8,000 for buyers using a Participating Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) benefit)	Check	660	See program page
Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years Loan Program (K-FIT) source	Forgivable second loan	5% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value, no maximum dollar limit	Check	660	See program page
Keystone Due At Time of Expiration Loan Program (K-DATE) source	Deferred second loan	8% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value for loans of $150,000 or less (subject to availability); 5% for loans of $150,001 or more; no maximum dollar limit	Check	660	See program page
Access Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program source	Program	Up to $15,000, no-interest loan	Check	n/a	At or below 80% of statewide family median income as determined by HUD

Full Pennsylvania program details, limits and how to apply →

Philadelphia County closing costs that differ from the rest of Pennsylvania

Transfer tax: Philadelphia Realty Transfer Tax: 4.578% of the sale price or assessed value (whichever produces the tax base under the city's formula), plus any assumed debt, combining the City's 3.578% and the Commonwealth's 1%. Rate increased from 4.278% (3.278% city + 1% state) effective July 1, 2025. By custom the tax is usually split evenly between buyer and seller, but this is not a legal requirement and the City can collect the full amount from either party. Source

Owner's title policy: negotiable/varies (Pennsylvania has no statewide customary norm as rigid as NYC's; confirm with the title company)

Most transfers between spouses, direct ascendants/descendants, and siblings are exempt from the Realty Transfer Tax with documentation. Exact deed and mortgage recording fees are set by the Philadelphia Department of Records fee schedule.

See Pennsylvania closing costs, title insurance and who pays →

Frequently asked questions

What down payment assistance is available in Philadelphia County, PA?

Philly First Home (City of Philadelphia, up to $10,000). Pennsylvania statewide programs can be used here too.

What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Philadelphia County?

Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $98,150 for a four-person household in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.

Is there a transfer tax in Philadelphia County?

Philadelphia Realty Transfer Tax: 4.578% of the sale price or assessed value (whichever produces the tax base under the city's formula), plus any assumed debt, combining the City's 3.578% and the Commonwealth's 1%. Rate increased from 4.278% (3.278% city + 1% state) effective July 1, 2025. By custom the tax is usually split evenly between buyer and seller, but this is not a legal requirement and the City can collect the full amount from either party.

What is the median home price in Philadelphia County?

About $243,100, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year). Down payment help of up to $10,000 covers roughly 4% of that price.

Official sources

Philadelphia County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.

This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.

See down payment help in all covered counties