Pennsylvania Mortgage Guides 2026
This complete Pennsylvania mortgage guide covers FHA loan limits by county, PHFA down payment and closing cost assistance, USDA rural loans for rural Pennsylvania, VA resources for Pennsylvania’s veteran community, and a complete closing cost breakdown — all in one place.
Everything You Need for a Pennsylvania Home Purchase
Six in-depth guides covering every aspect of getting a mortgage in Pennsylvania — from loan program selection to what you’ll pay at closing.
Pennsylvania Mortgage Guide
FHA loan limits by county, loan programs, PHFA assistance, property taxes, and the 2026 Pennsylvania housing market overview covering Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and beyond.
Read guide →Pennsylvania First-Time Home Buyer Guide
PHFA’s Keystone Home Loan, K-FIT and HOMEstead assistance, Keystone Advantage, and income and purchase price limits explained.
Read guide →Pennsylvania FHA Loan Requirements
2026 FHA limits for Philadelphia-area counties, Pittsburgh/Allegheny, Pike County, and all Pennsylvania counties — credit score requirements, MIP, and how FHA competes in Pennsylvania’s market.
Read guide →Pennsylvania VA Loan Requirements
VA loan benefits for Pennsylvania veterans — no down payment, no PMI, and military installations including Carlisle Barracks, Fort Indiantown Gap, and Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Read guide →Pennsylvania USDA Loans
USDA-eligible rural areas in Pennsylvania including Bedford, Fulton, and dozens of other rural counties — income limits and eligibility explained.
Read guide →Pennsylvania Closing Costs Guide
Pennsylvania’s realty transfer tax — 1% statewide plus local add-ons up to 4.578% in Philadelphia — title insurance, and what buyers and sellers typically pay.
Read guide →Key Pennsylvania Mortgage Guide Facts
FHA Loan Limits (2026)
- Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery & Philadelphia (Philadelphia metro): $630,200
- Pike County (NY metro area): FHA floor $541,287, conforming $1,209,750
- All other 61 counties, including Allegheny (Pittsburgh): $541,287
- Confirm your county at HUD’s official lookup
Down Payment Assistance
- K-FIT: 5% of purchase price/appraised value — forgiven 10% per year over 10 years
- Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan: lesser of 4% or $6,000 — 0% interest, repaid monthly over 10 years
- HOMEstead: up to $10,000 — forgiven 20% per year over 5 years; excluded in Philadelphia and several other counties with their own allocation
- Current terms at phfa.org
Property Taxes
- Effective rate roughly 1.3%-1.6% depending on county and school district (Est.) — Pennsylvania has no state-level property tax
- Assessed and collected entirely by counties, municipalities, and school districts
- Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program available for qualifying seniors and residents with disabilities
- Details at the PA Department of Revenue
Closing Costs
- Buyer closing costs: 2-5% of purchase price (Est.), driven mainly by realty transfer tax
- Realty transfer tax: 1% statewide, plus local add-ons — 4.578% total in Philadelphia, 4% total in Pittsburgh
- Attorney-conducted closings are customary in much of Pennsylvania
- Rates and customs vary significantly by county and municipality
Buying or Refinancing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania offers substantial PHFA down payment assistance and a wide range of loan programs, but also has one of the more complex closing cost environments due to realty transfer tax. Our guides above break down all of it, and every figure links to the official source so you can verify current terms.
- ✓ Check K-FIT and Keystone Advantage eligibility and current terms at phfa.org
- ✓ Confirm your county’s 2026 FHA limit with HUD’s lookup tool
- ✓ Compare FHA vs. conventional using our loan program guides
- ✓ Estimate your total cash to close with our closing cost guide
Coming soon · No obligation · Educational first
Pennsylvania Advisor Network — Coming Soon
We currently connect buyers with licensed mortgage advisors in Florida and Utah. Pennsylvania is on our expansion list. In the meantime, our Pennsylvania guides and the official program links above have everything you need to research your purchase.
Join the Pennsylvania Waitlist