See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 1, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Upper Darby, PA (2026)

Population: 87,199 | Median home price: $250,000 | Est. closing costs: $5,000 - $7,500

Upper Darby is a densely populated township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, located immediately west of Philadelphia and home to nearly 87,000 residents. With a median home price around $250,000, Upper Darby offers relatively affordable homeownership in the Philadelphia metro area. The township operates its own First Time Homebuyer Program providing up to $20,000 in forgivable loan assistance for down payment and closing costs, funded through federal CDBG dollars. Buyers can also tap into Pennsylvania state programs such as the PHFA Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan and the K-FIT forgivable loan for additional help. By stacking local and state programs, eligible buyers may be able to cover a significant portion of their upfront costs.

City Programs in Upper Darby

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Upper Darby Township First Time Homebuyer Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $20,000	Yes	View →

Upper Darby Township First Time Homebuyer Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $20,000
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 →

PHFA HFA Preferred Grant

Type:: Grant
Amount:: $500
First-time only:: No

PHFA HOMEstead Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $10,000
First-time only:: Yes

PHFA Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Up to 4% of purchase price or market value, or $6,000, whichever is less
First-time only:: No

PHFA Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years (K-FIT)

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 →

FHA Loans

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

Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)

Type:: Government Property Sale Program
Amount:: 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:: Yes

Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)

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

HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)

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

HUD $100 Down Program

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

USDA Rural Development Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:: No

VA Loans

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
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable 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 →

Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built or renovated home
First-time only:: No

NACA Purchase Program

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

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14 programs available in Upper Darby. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. You must be a first-time homebuyer (or have not owned a home in 3 years), earn at or below 80% of AMI, and be purchasing a single-family property in Upper Darby Township priced at or below $304,000 for existing homes or $365,000 for new construction.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) at 20 S. 69th Street, Upper Darby offers HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling. Call 215-765-1221 to register.

Step 3: Contact Upper Darby Township Community and Economic Development at 610-734-7625 or one@upperdarby.org to begin your application for the First Time Homebuyer Program.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Consider working with a PHFA-approved lender to access state-level assistance such as the Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan or K-FIT program alongside local funds.

Step 5: Find a home within program price limits. The property must be a single-family dwelling located within Upper Darby Township and intended for owner-occupied use.

Step 6: Submit your application and provide required documentation. You must contribute a minimum of $1,000 toward the purchase. Processing times vary based on funding availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Upper Darby?+

Upper Darby Township offers up to $20,000 through its First Time Homebuyer Program as a 0% interest forgivable loan. You can also apply for state programs including the PHFA Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan (up to 4% of purchase price or $6,000), the K-FIT forgivable loan (5% of the lesser of purchase price or appraised value), and the HOMEstead Program (up to $10,000). By combining local and state programs, eligible buyers could potentially receive over $30,000 in assistance.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+

For the Upper Darby Township First Time Homebuyer Program, yes. You must not have owned a home in the past 3 years. Displaced homemakers and single parents as defined by HUD also qualify. Most PHFA state programs also require first-time buyer status, though the definition is the same 3-year standard.

What is the maximum home price I can pay?+

Under the Upper Darby Township program, existing homes cannot exceed $304,000 and newly constructed homes cannot exceed $365,000. The property must be a single-family dwelling located within Upper Darby Township.

What homebuyer education is required?+

The Upper Darby Township program requires homebuyer education. Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA), located at 20 S. 69th Street in Upper Darby, offers HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling courses. Call 215-765-1221 to enroll.

Does the Delaware County Homeownership First Program cover Upper Darby?+

No. The Delaware County Homeownership First Program, which provides up to $10,000 in down payment assistance, specifically excludes properties in Upper Darby Township (along with Chester City and Haverford Township). However, Upper Darby has its own township-level program offering up to $20,000, which is actually more generous.

How is the Upper Darby forgivable loan forgiven?+

The Upper Darby Township assistance is a 0% interest forgivable loan. Beginning in the 5th year and ending in the 10th year, the loan is forgiven at 16.67% per year. The loan completely dissolves at the end of the 10th year, meaning you owe nothing if you remain in the home as your primary residence for 10 years.

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