Philly First Home

Homebuyer Assistance

The City of Philadelphia wants you to be a successful homeowner!

We are offering a homebuyer assistance grant of up to $10,000 (or 6% of the home’s purchase price, whichever is lower) to assist first-time homebuyers reduce the principal, cover down payment and loan closing costs.

To be eligible you must complete a FREE City-funded homeownership counseling program before you sign an Agreement of Sale. Homeownership counseling successfully prepares borrowers for this big life decision. In homeownership counseling, you will learn about:

  • Purchasing a home within your budget
  • Avoiding dangerous mortgages
  • Rights and responsibilities of homeowners
  • Mortgage application/purchase processes
  • Improving credit, credit repair and credit maintenance
  • Money management
  • Home maintenance
  • Avoiding foreclosure
  • Deeds and other legal housing documents

What type of property is eligible?

The property must be a single-family home or duplex located in Philadelphia (no condominiums).

Who is eligible?

  • You must be a first-time buyer*
  • You must complete one-on-one homeownership counseling through a City-funded housing counseling agency before signing an Agreement of Sale.
  • Agreement of sale must be signed by homebuyer and seller on or after May 2nd, 2022.
  • You must be income eligible (see chart).

Download the Philly First Home Flyers:

How Do I Apply?

Contact a City-funded housing counseling agency. They will need:

  • Total annual family income
  • Source of that income (employment, SSI, DPA, etc.)
  • Number of family members who will live in the house

* or have not owned a home in the past three years.

Income Guidelines

Income is calculated using grossincome for all members of the family who will live in the home.

Family SizeMaximum Annual
Household Income
1$73,800
2$84,350
3$94,900
4$105,400
5$113,850
6$122,300
7$130,700
8$139,500
More than 8
add per person
$8,450

For additional housing information, visit www.phila.gov/dhcd  or call 215-686-9749.


Application Status Summary

Program re-launched on May 2. As of the beginning of September 2022:

• Approved 297 people for $2,792,320
• Under Review 58 people for $545,117
• Draft 18 people for $137,000
• Total  373 people for $3,474,937


• Avg sales price is $193,000
• 1.6 mil in transfer tax was returned to the City
• 25% below 50% AMI, 25% above 80% AMI, and 50% in the middle from 50-80% AMI
• Race: 56% Black; 20% more than one race; white 18%
• Over half of the grants have gone to female head of households