See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Wilkes-Barre, PA (2026)
Wilkes-Barre is the county seat of Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania, situated along the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley. With a median home price around $184,000, Wilkes-Barre offers significantly more affordable homeownership compared to the national average. 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 Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years (K-FIT) program offers up to 5% of the purchase price in forgivable assistance, while the HOMEstead program provides up to $10,000 in a forgivable second mortgage. By combining county and state programs, Wilkes-Barre buyers can potentially stack over $17,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Wilkes-Barre
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes-Barre ARPA Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance | Grant | Up to $7,500 | No | View → |
| 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 → |
| NACA Purchase Program | Zero-Interest Loan | No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, and below-market fixed interest rate | No | View → |
| Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built home | 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:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500
- First-time only:
- No
- 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:
- No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, and below-market fixed interest rate
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built home
- 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 Wilkes-Barre 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're interested in.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. The Growing Homeowners Initiative requires completion of three homebuyer courses through HDC NEPA. The Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) of Luzerne County at 165 Amber Lane, Wilkes-Barre also offers HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling and homebuyer education workshops. Call CEO at 570-826-0510 to register.
- Step 3:
Contact HDC NEPA for county assistance. The Housing Development Corporation of NEPA administers the Growing Homeowners Initiative, which provides up to $7,500 in closing cost assistance for Luzerne County homebuyers. Visit their website or call to start your application.
- 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.