See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 31, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Pittsburgh, PA (2026)
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in Pennsylvania and a major economic center in western Pennsylvania, with a median home price around $235,000. The city offers some of the most generous homebuyer assistance in the country through the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), which provides up to $90,000 in grant assistance through both the Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program and the OwnPGH Homeownership Program for new construction. Buyers can also access the RNIH Phase II program for up to $25,000 in grants, the FHLBank Pittsburgh First Front Door grant of up to $15,000, and the First Front Door Keys grant of up to $20,000 for first-generation buyers. At the state level, the PHFA Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years (K-FIT) loan provides 5% of the purchase price and the Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan offers up to $6,000 at 0% interest. By stacking city, state, and nonprofit programs, Pittsburgh homebuyers can potentially receive over $100,000 in combined assistance.
City Programs in Pittsburgh
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OwnPGH Homeownership Program | Grant | Up to $90,000 grant | Yes | View → |
| URA Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program | Grant | Up to $90,000 ($50,000 upfront grant plus a zero-interest deferred forgivable grant) | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $90,000 grant
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $90,000 ($50,000 upfront grant plus a zero-interest deferred forgivable grant)
- 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 Keys Program | Grant | Up to $20,000 grant | Yes | View → |
| FHLBank Pittsburgh First Front Door Program (Pittsburgh Area) | Grant | Up to $15,000 grant | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable no-interest mortgage on a Habitat-built home | No | View → |
| NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania LIFT Program | Deferred Loan | Variable based on individual assessment (no pre-set maximum) | No | View → |
| RNIH Phase II (Reaching New Heights in Homeownership) | Grant | Up to $25,000 grant plus up to 5% of the sales price as a 10-year forgivable loan | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 grant
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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 home
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Variable based on individual assessment (no pre-set maximum)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000 grant plus up to 5% of the sales price as a 10-year forgivable loan
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Review income limits for the programs you're interested in. The URA programs require household income at or below 80% AMI. The RNIH Phase II program requires first-time buyer status and Allegheny County residency. The PHFA K-FIT program allows borrower income up to $196,200.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The URA requires a HUD-certified First-Time Homebuyer Course. Contact ACTION-Housing at (412) 281-2102 or NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania at (412) 281-9773 for approved counseling and education courses.
Step 3: Connect with a housing counselor. ACTION-Housing and NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania are HUD-approved counseling agencies in the Pittsburgh area that can help you understand which programs you qualify for and how to layer them together.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Contact a PHFA-approved participating lender for state programs like K-FIT and Keystone Advantage. For the First Front Door grant, work with a participating lender such as Clearview FCU, First Commonwealth FCU, or SSB Bank. For the NeighborWorks LIFT program, arrange a conventional or FHA loan with an approved lender partner.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. URA programs require purchasing within the City of Pittsburgh. OwnPGH is currently limited to URA-funded new construction or rehabilitated homes. The PHFA K-FIT program has a $659,000 purchase price limit.
Step 6: Apply for assistance programs. Contact the URA at (412) 255-6694 ext. 6721 or email OwnPGH@ura.org for the city programs. Your lender and housing counselor will help coordinate applications for each program you qualify for.
Step 7: Close on your home. Your lender coordinates the closing with all assistance programs applied. The URA grant includes a $50,000 upfront portion plus a forgivable portion conditioned on 10 years of occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Pittsburgh?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to get assistance in Pittsburgh?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay and still qualify for assistance?+−
What homebuyer education is required in Pittsburgh?+−
What is the difference between the URA DPCCAP and OwnPGH programs?+−
Can I combine multiple assistance programs in Pittsburgh?+−
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