See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 1, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Easton, PA (2026)
Easton is a historic city in Northampton County at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, forming part of the Lehigh Valley alongside Allentown and Bethlehem. With a median home price around $265,000, Easton offers an affordable entry point into one of Pennsylvania's most dynamic metro areas. First-time buyers can access up to $10,000 through the Northampton County First-Time Homebuyer Program, a forgivable loan that is completely forgiven after five years of owner-occupancy. The FHLBank Pittsburgh First Front Door Program offers up to $15,000 in grant assistance through participating lenders. At the state level, the PHFA K-FIT program provides up to 5% of the purchase price as a forgivable loan, and the HOMEstead program adds up to $10,000 more. By combining county, nonprofit, and state programs, Easton buyers could potentially stack over $35,000 in assistance.
County Programs in Northampton County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County First-Time Homebuyer Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Pennsylvania
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHFA HFA Preferred Grant | Grant | $500 | No | View → |
| PHFA HOMEstead Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | View → |
| PHFA Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to 4% of purchase price or market value, or $6,000, whichever is less | No | View → |
| PHFA Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years (K-FIT) | Forgivable Loan | 5% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- $500
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 4% of purchase price or market value, or $6,000, whichever is less
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- 5% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLBank Pittsburgh First Front Door Program (Lehigh Valley) | Grant | Up to $15,000 grant | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable no-interest mortgage on a Habitat-built or renovated home | No | View → |
| NACA Purchase Program | Zero-Interest Loan | No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, and below-market fixed interest rate | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 grant
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable no-interest mortgage on a Habitat-built or renovated home
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, and below-market fixed interest rate
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Northampton County First-Time Homebuyer Program requires household income at or below 80% of the Lehigh Valley median income as set by HUD. You must be a first-time homebuyer or not have owned a home for at least three years.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. A free half-day HUD-certified Homebuyer Education Counseling Program is required before closing. Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley at 570-591-5700 offers HUD-approved housing counseling in the area.
Step 3: Apply for the Northampton County program. Contact the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development for the application. The program provides up to $10,000 as a forgivable, zero-interest second mortgage, forgiven at 20% per year over five years.
Step 4: Ask your lender about the First Front Door Program. The FHLBank Pittsburgh First Front Door Program offers up to $15,000 in grant assistance to qualified first-time buyers through participating financial institutions. Ask your lender if they participate.
Step 5: Get pre-approved with a PHFA-approved lender. A PHFA-approved lender can combine your first mortgage with state programs like K-FIT and HOMEstead for additional down payment assistance.
Step 6: Find a home and close. Your home must be in Northampton County for the county program. Work with your counselor and lender to submit all required documentation and coordinate program timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Easton?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
How does the Northampton County loan forgiveness work?+−
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