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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Hazleton, PA (2026)
Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania, located in the southern part of the county along the foothills of the Pocono Plateau. With a median home price around $155,000, Hazleton is one of the more affordable markets in the region. Local buyers can access the Growing Homeowners Initiative through HDC NEPA and Luzerne County, which provides up to $7,500 in closing cost assistance after completing homebuyer education courses. At the state level, the PHFA K-FIT program offers up to 5% of the purchase price as a forgivable loan, and the HOMEstead program provides up to $10,000 in a forgivable second mortgage. By combining county and state programs, Hazleton buyers can potentially stack over $17,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Hazleton
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growing Homeowners Initiative (Luzerne County) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $7,500 | Yes | View → |
| 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 → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | 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 → |
| Hazleton Area Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built 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 → |
| 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- 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
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built 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
- 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
How to Apply
- Step 1:
Check your eligibility. Most programs in the Hazleton area require household income at or below HUD's low-to-moderate income limits for Luzerne County. Review the specific income and purchase price requirements for each program you are interested in.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. The Growing Homeowners Initiative requires completion of three homebuyer courses through the Housing Development Corporation of NEPA (HDC NEPA). Contact HDC NEPA to enroll in homebuyer education courses.
- Step 3:
Apply for county assistance. HDC NEPA administers the Growing Homeowners Initiative in cooperation with Luzerne County, providing up to $7,500 in closing cost assistance for Luzerne County homebuyers.
- Step 4:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Connect with a PHFA-approved lender to access state programs like K-FIT and HOMEstead. A PHFA-approved lender can combine your first mortgage with state down payment assistance.
- Step 5:
Find a home within program guidelines. Your home must be in Luzerne County for the Growing Homeowners Initiative. Confirm any purchase price limits with your lender and program counselor.
- Step 6:
Submit your applications and close. Work with your housing counselor and lender to submit all required documentation. Allow time for program processing alongside your mortgage approval.