PA First-Time Home Buyer Income Limits (2026): PHFA and County Programs

If you are a first-time buyer in Pennsylvania, the best help usually comes from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and from county down payment programs. Most of them have income limits. Here are the 2026 numbers, in one place, so you can see what you qualify for before you talk to a lender.

Key takeaway: For PHFA’s Keystone Home Loan, the 2026 income limit in Philadelphia is $147,200 for a 1-2 person household and $171,700 for 3 or more. In Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester it is $122,700 and $141,100.

PHFA Keystone Home Loan income limits 2026

These limits apply to reservations made on or after July 1, 2026, according to PHFA’s published limits table. The purchase price limit is the most a home can cost.

County	1-2 people	3+ people	Max purchase price
Philadelphia (target area)	$147,200	$171,700	$730,600
Bucks	$122,700	$141,100	$588,800
Montgomery	$122,700	$141,100	$588,800
Delaware	$122,700	$141,100	$588,800
Chester	$122,700	$141,100	$588,800
Allegheny	$110,400	$126,900	$523,000
Lancaster	$109,200	$125,500	$516,500
Lehigh	$106,000	$121,900	$499,900
Berks	$106,000	$121,900	$499,900

Many other counties, including York, Lebanon, Erie, Monroe, Northampton and Pike, use the $106,000 / $121,900 tier. Some rural “target” counties have higher limits. Check the official PHFA limits table for any county not listed here.

What “target area” means

Philadelphia is a PHFA target area. In target areas the income and price limits are higher, and you do not have to be a first-time buyer to use the Keystone Home Loan. Outside target areas, every adult buyer generally must not have owned a home in the past three years (veterans are an exception).

Do FHA loans have income limits in Pennsylvania?

No. A regular FHA loan has no maximum income. The income limits only matter when you add a PHFA loan or a down payment assistance program. See the 2026 FHA loan limits by county for the maximum loan amount instead.

Montgomery County first-time homebuyer program income limits

Montgomery County’s First Time Homebuyers Program offers a $20,000 grant for households at 80% to 100% of area median income and $40,000 for households below 80%, according to the county’s 2026 program page.

Household size	80% of median	100% of median
1 person	$68,750	$85,900
2 people	$78,550	$98,200
3 people	$88,350	$110,500
4+ people	$98,150	$122,700

Full details: First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Montgomery County.

Bucks County first-time homebuyer program income limits

Bucks County’s program offers up to $10,000 as a no-interest deferred loan for households at or below 100% of the county’s median family income. The county updates the income table each year, so confirm the current figures with Bucks County Housing Group. Details: First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Bucks County.

Philadelphia programs

Philadelphia buyers can combine PHFA loans with city programs such as Philly First Home and Turn the Key. Read our Philadelphia first-time home buyer guide.

Income is only half the test

Meeting the income limit does not guarantee approval. PHFA requires a minimum credit score of 660 for its PHIF-insured conventional loans, and lenders also check your debt-to-income ratio, payment history and collections. Many Pennsylvania buyers qualify on income but get stopped by credit.

Tip: Find out what is holding your score back before you apply. Take the free readiness check or get a free Mortgage Readiness Analysis. No credit pull.

Frequently asked questions

What is the income limit for first-time home buyers in Pennsylvania?

It depends on the program and county. For PHFA’s Keystone Home Loan in 2026, limits range from $106,000 to $147,200 for a 1-2 person household and from $121,900 to $171,700 for 3 or more people.

What is the PHFA income limit in Philadelphia?

$147,200 for a 1-2 person household and $171,700 for 3 or more people, with a maximum purchase price of $730,600.

Does PHFA count my whole household’s income?

PHFA looks at the income of everyone who will be on the loan and living in the home. Your lender will calculate it for you.

Can I use PHFA if I owned a home before?

Yes in target areas such as Philadelphia, and yes for discharged veterans. Elsewhere, you generally must not have owned a home in the past three years.