First Front Door Program
Could you use some free grant money to purchase your first home? Dumb question, I know, but now that we have your attention, you need to know about the First Front Door grant program.
For eligible first-time home buyers in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh provides a free down payment (or closing cost assistance grant).
A first-time homebuyer is defined as an applicant who has not owned a house in the previous 3 years, or who has owned a property solely while married but not as a single person in the previous 3 years (this includes a married couple who has not owned a home in the previous 3 years).
The Federal Home Loan Bank collaborates with member banks to offer grant funding and first mortgage financing (i.e. FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans).
The grant assistance is a 3-to-1 match. For every dollar that you put into the purchase of the home, the Federal Home Loan Bank will grant $3. For example, if you pay $1,000 toward the purchase of the home, you would receive $3,000. The maximum grant is $5,000.
Doing a little math, that means that if you pay $1,667, you would receive $5,000.
There is no interest and no monthly payment for the assistance grant! There is no repayment unless you sell your home within 5 years. The repayment is prorated on the year of sale.
For example, if your grant was for $5,000 and the house was sold in 3 years, you would owe the Federal Home Loan Bank $2,000 (year 4 and 5).
The First Front Door Assistance Program: FAQs
Q. Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?
A. Yes. See above.
Q. Is there a minimum credit score with this program?
A. No.
Q. Is there a minimum down payment?
A. No.
Q. What homes are eligible?
A. Single-family houses, townhomes, condominiums, modular units, and manufactured homes.
Q. Can I ask the seller to pay my closing costs (seller assist) and still obtain the grant money?
A. Yes. The assistance grant is not decreased based on seller contribution based on the first mortgage (i.e. FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loan).
Q. Are there income limits?
A. Yes, the home buyer(s) must have an income of 80% of the county median household income (or less) for the home.
First front door income limits for 2020
► Pennsylvania Income Limits
| County Name | Median Income | 1 family | 2 family | 3 family | 4 family | 5 family | 6 family | 7 family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 85,800 | 47,950 | 54,800 | 61,650 | 68,500 | 74,000 | 79,500 | 84,950 |
| Allegheny County | 83,000 | 46,500 | 53,150 | 59,800 | 66,400 | 71,750 | 77,050 | 82,350 |
| Armstrong County | 64,700 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Beaver County | 83,000 | 46,500 | 53,150 | 59,800 | 66,400 | 71,750 | 77,050 | 82,350 |
| Bedford County | 61,700 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Berks County | 78,600 | 44,050 | 50,350 | 56,650 | 62,900 | 67,950 | 73,000 | 78,000 |
| Blair County | 60,000 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Bradford County | 67,100 | 37,600 | 43,000 | 48,350 | 53,700 | 58,000 | 62,300 | 66,600 |
| Bucks County | 96,600 | 54,150 | 61,850 | 69,600 | 77,300 | 83,500 | 89,700 | 95,900 |
| Butler County | 83,000 | 46,500 | 53,150 | 59,800 | 66,400 | 71,750 | 77,050 | 82,350 |
| Cambria County | 62,700 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Cameron County | 58,600 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Carbon County | 78,200 | 43,800 | 50,050 | 56,300 | 62,550 | 67,600 | 72,600 | 77,600 |
| Centre County | 88,700 | 49,700 | 56,800 | 63,900 | 70,950 | 76,650 | 82,350 | 88,000 |
| Chester County | 96,600 | 54,150 | 61,850 | 69,600 | 77,300 | 83,500 | 89,700 | 95,900 |
| Clarion County | 60,700 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Clearfield County | 62,000 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Clinton County | 63,800 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Columbia County | 65,800 | 36,900 | 42,150 | 47,400 | 52,650 | 56,900 | 61,100 | 65,300 |
| Crawford County | 66,000 | 37,000 | 42,250 | 47,550 | 52,800 | 57,050 | 61,250 | 65,500 |
| Cumberland County | 85,000 | 47,600 | 54,400 | 61,200 | 68,000 | 73,450 | 78,900 | 84,350 |
| Dauphin County | 85,000 | 47,600 | 54,400 | 61,200 | 68,000 | 73,450 | 78,900 | 84,350 |
| Delaware County | 96,600 | 54,150 | 61,850 | 69,600 | 77,300 | 83,500 | 89,700 | 95,900 |
| Elk County | 66,900 | 37,450 | 42,800 | 48,150 | 53,500 | 57,800 | 62,100 | 66,350 |
| Erie County | 71,500 | 40,050 | 45,800 | 51,500 | 57,200 | 61,800 | 66,400 | 70,950 |
| Fayette County | 83,000 | 46,500 | 53,150 | 59,800 | 66,400 | 71,750 | 77,050 | 82,350 |
| Forest County | 47,200 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Franklin County | 78,300 | 43,900 | 50,150 | 56,400 | 62,650 | 67,700 | 72,700 | 77,700 |
| Fulton County | 65,300 | 36,600 | 41,800 | 47,050 | 52,250 | 56,450 | 60,650 | 64,800 |
| Greene County | 66,900 | 37,450 | 42,800 | 48,150 | 53,500 | 57,800 | 62,100 | 66,350 |
| Huntingdon County | 61,700 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Indiana County | 62,500 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Jefferson County | 60,900 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Juniata County | 65,300 | 36,600 | 41,800 | 47,050 | 52,250 | 56,450 | 60,650 | 64,800 |
| Lackawanna County | 71,700 | 40,150 | 45,900 | 51,650 | 57,350 | 61,950 | 66,550 | 71,150 |
| Lancaster County | 79,500 | 44,550 | 50,900 | 57,250 | 63,600 | 68,700 | 73,800 | 78,900 |
| Lawrence County | 69,200 | 38,750 | 44,300 | 49,850 | 55,350 | 59,800 | 64,250 | 68,650 |
| Lebanon County | 77,000 | 43,150 | 49,300 | 55,450 | 61,600 | 66,550 | 71,500 | 76,400 |
| Lehigh County | 78,200 | 43,800 | 50,050 | 56,300 | 62,550 | 67,600 | 72,600 | 77,600 |
| Luzerne County | 71,700 | 40,150 | 45,900 | 51,650 | 57,350 | 61,950 | 66,550 | 71,150 |
| Lycoming County | 64,800 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| McKean County | 59,900 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Mercer County | 66,700 | 37,350 | 42,700 | 48,050 | 53,350 | 57,650 | 61,900 | 66,200 |
| Mifflin County | 56,200 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Monroe County | 79,100 | 44,350 | 50,650 | 57,000 | 63,300 | 68,400 | 73,450 | 78,500 |
| Montgomery County | 96,600 | 54,150 | 61,850 | 69,600 | 77,300 | 83,500 | 89,700 | 95,900 |
| Montour County | 76,300 | 42,750 | 48,850 | 54,950 | 61,050 | 65,950 | 70,850 | 75,750 |
| Northampton County | 78,200 | 43,800 | 50,050 | 56,300 | 62,550 | 67,600 | 72,600 | 77,600 |
| Northumberland County | 68,500 | 38,200 | 43,650 | 49,100 | 54,550 | 58,950 | 63,300 | 67,650 |
| Perry County | 85,000 | 47,600 | 54,400 | 61,200 | 68,000 | 73,450 | 78,900 | 84,350 |
| Philadelphia County | 96,600 | 54,150 | 61,850 | 69,600 | 77,300 | 83,500 | 89,700 | 95,900 |
| Pike County | 79,100 | 44,350 | 50,650 | 57,000 | 63,300 | 68,400 | 73,450 | 78,500 |
| Potter County | 57,700 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Schuylkill County | 66,300 | 37,150 | 42,450 | 47,750 | 53,050 | 57,300 | 61,550 | 65,800 |
| Snyder County | 66,900 | 37,450 | 42,800 | 48,150 | 53,500 | 57,800 | 62,100 | 66,350 |
| Somerset County | 63,500 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Sullivan County | 62,200 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Susquehanna County | 66,100 | 37,050 | 42,350 | 47,650 | 52,900 | 57,150 | 61,400 | 65,600 |
| Tioga County | 62,000 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Union County | 71,500 | 40,050 | 45,800 | 51,500 | 57,200 | 61,800 | 66,400 | 70,950 |
| Venango County | 61,800 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Warren County | 62,500 | 36,350 | 41,550 | 46,750 | 51,900 | 56,100 | 60,250 | 64,400 |
| Washington County | 83,000 | 46,500 | 53,150 | 59,800 | 66,400 | 71,750 | 77,050 | 82,350 |
| Wayne County | 69,000 | 38,650 | 44,200 | 49,700 | 55,200 | 59,650 | 64,050 | 68,450 |
| Westmoreland County | 83,000 | 46,500 | 53,150 | 59,800 | 66,400 | 71,750 | 77,050 | 82,350 |
| Wyoming County | 71,700 | 40,150 | 45,900 | 51,650 | 57,350 | 61,950 | 66,550 | 71,150 |
| York County | 82,200 | 46,050 | 52,600 | 59,200 | 65,750 | 71,050 | 76,300 | 81,550 |
► Delaware Income Limits
| County Name | Median Income | 1 family | 2 family | 3 family | 4 family | 5 family | 6 family | 7 family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 68,400 | 38,300 | 43,800 | 49,250 | 54,700 | 59,100 | 63,500 | 67,850 |
| New Castle County | 96,600 | 54,150 | 61,850 | 69,600 | 77,300 | 83,500 | 89,700 | 95,900 |
| Sussex County | 75,900 | 42,500 | 48,600 | 54,650 | 60,700 | 65,600 | 70,450 | 75,300 |
► West Virginia Income Limits
| County Name | Median Income | 1 family | 2 family | 3 family | 4 family | 5 family | 6 family | 7 family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbour County | 50,000 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Berkeley County | 74,300 | 41,650 | 47,600 | 53,550 | 59,450 | 64,250 | 69,000 | 73,750 |
| Boone County | 50,300 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Braxton County | 55,900 | 31,300 | 35,800 | 40,250 | 44,700 | 48,300 | 51,900 | 55,450 |
| Brooke County | 62,400 | 36,500 | 41,700 | 46,900 | 52,100 | 56,300 | 60,450 | 64,650 |
| Cabell County | 59,100 | 33,150 | 37,850 | 42,600 | 47,300 | 51,100 | 54,900 | 58,700 |
| Calhoun County | 51,000 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Clay County | 55,700 | 34,100 | 38,950 | 43,800 | 48,650 | 52,550 | 56,450 | 60,350 |
| Doddridge County | 62,100 | 32,750 | 37,400 | 42,100 | 46,750 | 50,500 | 54,250 | 58,000 |
| Fayette County | 50,600 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Gilmer County | 52,300 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Grant County | 54,000 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Greenbrier County | 54,400 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Hampshire County | 83,400 | 44,450 | 50,800 | 57,150 | 63,450 | 68,550 | 73,650 | 78,700 |
| Hancock County | 62,400 | 36,500 | 41,700 | 46,900 | 52,100 | 56,300 | 60,450 | 64,650 |
| Hardy County | 49,500 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Harrison County | 77,600 | 41,650 | 47,600 | 53,550 | 59,450 | 64,250 | 69,000 | 73,750 |
| Jackson County | 58,800 | 32,950 | 37,650 | 42,350 | 47,050 | 50,850 | 54,600 | 58,350 |
| Jefferson County | 94,700 | 53,050 | 60,600 | 68,200 | 75,750 | 81,850 | 87,900 | 93,950 |
| Kanawha County | 55,700 | 34,100 | 38,950 | 43,800 | 48,650 | 52,550 | 56,450 | 60,350 |
| Lewis County | 51,600 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Lincoln County | 48,700 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Logan County | 53,300 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| McDowell County | 34,000 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Marion County | 63,600 | 35,650 | 40,750 | 45,850 | 50,900 | 55,000 | 59,050 | 63,150 |
| Marshall County | 68,900 | 38,600 | 44,100 | 49,600 | 55,100 | 59,550 | 63,950 | 68,350 |
| Mason County | 52,900 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Mercer County | 53,200 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Mineral County | 61,900 | 40,800 | 46,600 | 52,450 | 58,250 | 62,950 | 67,600 | 72,250 |
| Mingo County | 43,100 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Monongalia County | 73,900 | 41,400 | 47,300 | 53,200 | 59,100 | 63,850 | 68,600 | 73,300 |
| Monroe County | 48,200 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Morgan County | 63,600 | 35,650 | 40,750 | 45,850 | 50,900 | 55,000 | 59,050 | 63,150 |
| Nicholas County | 53,700 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Ohio County | 68,900 | 38,600 | 44,100 | 49,600 | 55,100 | 59,550 | 63,950 | 68,350 |
| Pendleton County | 50,100 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Pleasants County | 59,700 | 33,400 | 38,200 | 42,950 | 47,700 | 51,550 | 55,350 | 59,150 |
| Pocahontas County | 58,200 | 32,600 | 37,250 | 41,900 | 46,550 | 50,300 | 54,000 | 57,750 |
| Preston County | 73,900 | 41,400 | 47,300 | 53,200 | 59,100 | 63,850 | 68,600 | 73,300 |
| Putnam County | 77,100 | 43,200 | 49,400 | 55,550 | 61,700 | 66,650 | 71,600 | 76,550 |
| Raleigh County | 54,300 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Randolph County | 55,800 | 31,300 | 35,750 | 40,200 | 44,650 | 48,250 | 51,800 | 55,400 |
| Ritchie County | 55,000 | 30,800 | 35,200 | 39,600 | 44,000 | 47,550 | 51,050 | 54,600 |
| Roane County | 48,700 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Summers County | 45,400 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Taylor County | 61,300 | 34,350 | 39,250 | 44,150 | 49,050 | 53,000 | 56,900 | 60,850 |
| Tucker County | 57,900 | 32,450 | 37,050 | 41,700 | 46,300 | 50,050 | 53,750 | 57,450 |
| Tyler County | 56,800 | 31,850 | 36,400 | 40,950 | 45,450 | 49,100 | 52,750 | 56,400 |
| Upshur County | 55,300 | 31,000 | 35,400 | 39,850 | 44,250 | 47,800 | 51,350 | 54,900 |
| Wayne County | 59,100 | 33,150 | 37,850 | 42,600 | 47,300 | 51,100 | 54,900 | 58,700 |
| Webster County | 44,600 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Wetzel County | 51,700 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
| Wirt County | 64,300 | 35,500 | 40,600 | 45,650 | 50,700 | 54,800 | 58,850 | 62,900 |
| Wood County | 64,300 | 35,500 | 40,600 | 45,650 | 50,700 | 54,800 | 58,850 | 62,900 |
| Wyoming County | 51,900 | 30,750 | 35,150 | 39,550 | 43,900 | 47,450 | 50,950 | 54,450 |
Prior to purchasing a house, applicants must undergo at least 4 hours of homeownership counseling, which must include a discussion of predatory financing.
Registration for the First Front Door program is required through a member bank or lender. The grant registration is valid for 6 months. To put it another way, get pre-approved and you'll have up to 6 months to find a house and close.
The First Front Door program Funding will open in March and close when funds are exhausted. Don’t wait, get registered, and start looking for your home now!