Assistance program · Pennsylvania
Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan
Pennsylvania state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs: up to 4% of the price or $6,000, at 0%, repaid over 10 years
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to 4% of the price, capped at $6,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Repayable
- Second loan with monthly payments
- First-time buyer?
- Not stated — ask
- The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer
- Minimum credit score
- 660
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan with monthly payments
What it gives
Up to 4% of the price, capped at $6,000
Source text
Qualified borrowers can receive up to four percent (4%) of the purchase price or market value or $6,000 (whichever is less) … amortized over a ten year term at zero percent (0%) interest. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
requires all borrowers to have a minimum credit score of 660. … Borrower(s) liquid assets may not be greater than $50,000 after deducting the funds needed to close on the loan. … The Keystone Advantage Assistance can be used in conjunction with the following PHFA first mortgage - First-time buyers only Not stated — ask
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score 660
- Income limit The source does not mention one
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement The source does not mention one — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Yes
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of Pennsylvania
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Pennsylvania
The program covers all of Pennsylvania. The first column is Pennsylvania's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The typical home value ($254,500) fits within Pennsylvania's FHA limit ($541,287).
| Figure | Pennsylvania | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $254,500 | $88,900 (Cameron County) to $485,600 (Chester County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 (Adams County) to $630,200 (Philadelphia County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 (Adams County) to $1,209,750 (Pike County) | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $72,650 | $68,950 (Armstrong County) to $98,150 (Philadelphia County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
-
Check your score: the published minimum is 660
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
-
Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
-
Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 8 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- Is it only for first-time buyers?
- Do you require a homebuyer course? Which ones do you accept, and what do they cost?
- Is there an income limit for my household?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- What rate and monthly payment does the second loan have?
Against the others
How it compares with Pennsylvania's other programs
The 4 programs we checked in Pennsylvania, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 3 programs in Pennsylvania, out of 4, whose page does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. It is one of 4 out of 4 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. It is the only program in Pennsylvania on our list with "repayable" help. It covers the whole state; one program on the list is only for a city or a county.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keystone Advantage Assistance Loanthis program | Repayable | Up to 4% of the price, capped at $6,000 | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Keystone Forgivable in Ten Years Loan Program (K-FIT) | Forgivable | Up to 5% of the price | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Keystone Due At Time of Expiration Loan Program (K-DATE) | Deferred | Up to 8% of the price | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Philly First Home | Grant | Up to $10,000 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Philadelphia, Philadelphia County |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
-
Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
-
Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
-
Help and programs
Public charge and housing: what the rules say
Public charge: which housing help DHS may consider, who is exempt, how HUD prorates assistance for mixed-status families and where to get free advice.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.