Grant Programs in Philly
Hello friends!
So, you’ve found yourself on Zillow at 2 a.m. once again, scrolling through dreamy rowhomes and wondering how people actually afford to buy their first home without selling a kidney? Here’s the tea: there’s free money on the table—and it’s not a scam. Real, local grant programs exist to help first-time buyers like you get into the game without draining your savings. In fact, we at Shqiponja Likaj Realty recently had a client with money leftover from a program she qualified for so the rest of the funds not used in the purchase were applied to her student loans. READ. THAT. AGAIN.
Let’s talk about what’s out there—and how we can help you take full advantage of it. Here are some valuable resources and grants currently available in Philadelphia:
💸 Philly First Home Program
Up to $10,000 toward your down payment and closing costs.
Yes, really. No strings attached—except you have to be a first-time homebuyer (haven’t owned in the past 3 years), take a homebuyer education course, and buy within Philly city limits.
✨ Why it’s great: Helps with that cash upfront that scares most buyers off, Can stack with other grants (hello, financial boost!), Makes buying in Philly actually doable for regular folks.
📎 Here’s the full breakdown
🧱 First Front Door Program (FFD)
Save $1, Get $3 Back—Up to $5,000
This program is basically the BOGO deal of homebuying. For every $1 you save, FFD gives you $3, up to $5,000. It’s offered through specific partner lenders, and you’ll need to complete a homebuyer counseling session.
✨ Why it’s awesome: It rewards you for saving (even a little!), Great for buyers with decent credit but low cash on hand, Can be used toward closing costs or the down payment.
📎 See who’s eligible + find lenders
🏡 Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)
Think of PHFA as the homebuyer’s secret menu—no gatekeeping here.
PHFA isn’t a single grant—it’s a whole menu of resources to make buying a home more affordable.
We’re talking:
Down payment and closing cost assistance (for up to $10K), Low-interest mortgage options, Mortgage Credit Certificates to lower your taxes, Options for buyers with low credit or non-traditional income
✨ Why we love it:
Works in Philly AND the ‘burbs, Can be used with other grants, Ideal for buyers with complex finances (freelancers, side hustlers—we see you)
📎 Browse all PHFA programs
💁♀️ Soooo… how do you actually use these?That’s where we come in. At Shqiponja Likaj Realty, we do more than just show homes and hand you the keys at settlement. We’re a locally owned boutique brokerage, which means:We know these programs inside and out.We’ll match you with the right lender to actually access these funds (not all lenders are created equal!)We’ll guide you step-by-step—paperwork, timelines, deadlines, all of it.And most importantly? We’re on your side—not just trying to hit a quota.
Our goal is to get you the most house for the least stress (and ideally, the least out-of-pocket cash). We love this city, we love our clients, and we’re obsessed with helping smart people like you build real wealth through homeownership.
