Buying a home in Pennsylvania: the help you may qualify for.
Down payment assistance, property tax exemptions and veteran benefits in Pennsylvania, gathered from official state sources and explained in plain English. Every program has its own rules, so check with the agency before you count on it.
Down payment and closing cost help
From the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).
K-FIT
5% of the price or appraised value
Forgiven 10% a year over 10 years, with a Keystone Flex loan. Credit score 660+ and homebuyer education.
Keystone Advantage Assistance
Up to 4% of the price or $6,000
0% loan repaid monthly over 10 years.
Who qualifies: Through a PHFA-approved lender. Some counties and cities add their own help.
Property tax exemptions and credits
Exemptions lower your home’s taxable value or your bill. Most aren’t automatic: you apply with your county assessment office. Pennsylvania’s official exemptions information.
For homeowners who live in the home
Homestead and farmstead exclusion
Lowers the school property tax on your home
School districts reduce the taxable value of homes their owners live in. The amount depends on your district.
How to apply: With your county assessment office, by March 1. (Taxpayer Relief Act (Act 1 of 2006))
For homeowners 65 and older
Property Tax/Rent Rebate
A rebate of up to $1,000 (sometimes more)
For homeowners 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older, with income up to $48,110. You reapply each year; the deadline for 2025 property taxes is December 31, 2026.
How to apply: Free online at pa.gov/ptrr (myPATH). (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)
For veterans
Disabled veterans' real estate tax exemption
Full exemption on your home
For honorably discharged veterans with a 100% service-connected disability who show financial need, and for qualifying surviving spouses.
How to apply: Through your county director of veterans affairs. (Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)
Want to see which ones fit you? Answer a few questions in the property tax exemptions checker.
If you serve or served
- VA home loan: available in every state, often with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. You’ll need a Certificate of Eligibility. See VA home loans.
- Property tax: veterans in Pennsylvania may qualify for Disabled veterans' real estate tax exemption. See the details above.
Your next steps
- Work out a monthly cost you’re comfortable with in the home cost calculator. It also lists Pennsylvania’s programs with the loans you may qualify for.
- Talk with a free or low-cost HUD-approved housing counselor. Find one near you.
- Ask each lender which of these programs they work with, and compare Loan Estimates from at least three.
- Follow the step-by-step home buyer’s guide from budget to keys.
Common questions
Does Pennsylvania have down payment help for home buyers?
Yes. Programs from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) include K-FIT, Keystone Advantage Assistance. Through a PHFA-approved lender. Some counties and cities add their own help. Funding and rules change often, so check with the agency or a participating lender.
Does Pennsylvania have a homestead or property tax exemption for homeowners?
Yes. Homeowners who live in the home may qualify for: Homestead and farmstead exclusion. Apply with your county assessment office; most exemptions aren't automatic.
Is there help for veterans buying a home in Pennsylvania?
VA home loans are available in every state, often with no down payment. Veterans may also qualify for property tax benefits such as Disabled veterans' real estate tax exemption.
Sources: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and Pennsylvania’s property tax office, linked above. Last checked November 11, 2026. Programs, amounts, income limits and funding change often, sometimes every year. Know Before You Own doesn’t recommend lenders or take referral fees. This page is general education, not legal, tax or lending advice. See other states.