What Is First Front Door?

If you’re buying your first home in Delaware, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia, the First Front Door (FFD) program could unlock thousands in down-payment and closing-cost assistance. Through this grant, eligible first-time homebuyers partner with participating lenders to get a $3 match for every $1 you contribute, up to as much as $15,000 (amounts vary by lender and funding round). And if you qualify for the Keys to Equity version — designed to expand homeownership opportunities for minority and first-generation buyers — you can receive up to $20,000 with just a $1,000 minimum contribution.

Best of all, if you live in the home for at least five years, you won’t have to repay the grant. But because funding is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, it pays to move quickly.

In this article, we’ll walk through how the First Front Door program works, who qualifies, how much you could receive, how to apply, and how you can make the most of it.

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How does First Front Door work?

The First Front Door program partners with approved local lenders (banks, credit unions, and mortgage companies) to distribute funds. Here’s how it works:

• You contribute a minimum of $1,500 toward your down payment or closing costs.
• FFD provides a 3-to-1 match, up to $15,000.
  • Example: Contribute $1,500 → receive $4,500 grant → total $6,000 toward your purchase.
• If you’re approved for the Keys to Equity version, contribute $1,000 to get up to $20,000.
• You must buy a primary residence — not an investment or vacation home.
• If you sell or move within five years, you’ll repay a prorated portion of the grant ($1,000 for each year remaining).

🏠 Eligible property types: Single-family homes, condos, townhomes, modular or manufactured homes (if permanently affixed to land).

Who is eligible for First Front Door?

To qualify for the First Front Door program, you must meet six criteria:

• Be a first-time home buyer
• Contribute your own funds as a part of the down payment or closing costs
• Have a household income that’s below 80% of the area median income (learn more)
• Complete at least four hours of home counseling (including the subject of predatory lending)
• If you’re a student, work a minimum of 30 hours per week
• Get your mortgage through the same lender who’s offering you the FFD grant
• Have less than or equal to $50,000 in non-retirement assets

Unlike other assistance programs, you don’t need a minimum credit score, debt-to-income ratio, or down payment amount to qualify.

First-time home buyer

A first-time home buyer is an applicant who has not owned a single-family home in the past three years.

This includes married couples in which one person owned a property but the other hasn’t. If you owned a property within the past three years while you were married, but you’re now single and you haven’t owned a property in that many years, you’re also eligible.

Loan limits

There are no limits for a First Front Door grant. As long as you meet the criteria above, you’re eligible for the FFD program.

Minimum contributions

To receive the full grant, you’ll need to contribute at least $1,500 toward your closing costs and down payment. The FFD program matches your contributions 3-to-1, up to $15,000. That means you’ll receive $3 for every $1 you put in.

Income limits

To get an FFD grant, your gross household income must be at or below 80% of your area median income. You also can’t have assets that total more than $50,000 (not including retirement accounts).

For example, if you live in Kent County, DE, where the area median income is $85,000, your household income would have to be below $68,000 for you to receive the grant.

You can find your area median income and income limits on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Keys to Equity

The Keys to Equity initiative is an enhanced version of First Front Door offered by participating FHLBank members for minority and first-generation buyers.

It provides up to $20,000 in grant funds to eligible buyers who:

• Identify as a racial or ethnic minority homebuyer or are the first generation in their family to own a home
• Contribute at least $1,000 of their own funds
• Meet the same income, lender, and counseling requirements as FFD

Check with your lender to see if you qualify for this expanded program.

How to apply for First Front Door

1. Find a FFD lender
2. Check for available funding
3. Apply
4. Complete homeownership counseling
5. Apply for a mortgage within 6 months

1. Find a participating First Front Door lender

Not all lenders or banks will offer the First Front Door program. To find a FFD provider, you can see all participating lenders on the First Front Door homepage, or you can ask your real estate agent if they know reputable FFD lenders in your area.

2. Check if funding is available

Participating lenders will offer FFD funding on a first-come, first-served basis. Lenders will often close registration once their funds are gone, opening again in the spring with a fresh restock of funding.

💰 What should I do if funding is unavailable?

Many lenders will post on their websites when they no longer have FFD funding. Even so, it’s a good idea to reach out to these lenders, as they might be able to tell you when registration will open again — perhaps even putting you on a waiting list.

3. Apply

If funding is available, your lender might want to meet in-person to discuss eligibility. You’ll have to provide proof of income and show you’re a first-time home buyer. Once you’ve submitted your documents, your lender will review your application with the Federal Home Loan Bank, and you’ll hear back from your lender within 10 business days.

4. Complete the homeownership counseling course

The Federal Home Loan Bank requires you to complete a home counseling course. Your lender might know of a course in your area, though you can find several free online homeownership classes (such as the one offered by PHFA). Just be sure the course is offered by an approved counseling agency and satisfies all requirements: it must be at least four hours long and offer a topic on predatory lending.

5. Apply for a mortgage within 6 months

Once you’re approved, you have six months to find a home, complete your mortgage application (with your FFD lender), and use your grant.

Summary of First Front Door

• Grant amounts: Up to $15,000 for FFD and $20,000 for Keys to Equity.
• Your contribution: At least $1,500 (or $1,000 for Keys).
• Match rate: $3 of grant funds for every $1 you contribute.
• No repayment if you stay in the home ≥ 5 years.
• Funding: Limited and first-come, first-served each year.
• Eligibility: First-time home buyer, income ≤ 80% AMI, complete counseling.

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