Q: How much assistance does it provide?

1st Home Allegheny offers between $10,000 and $45,000 in assistance. Award tiers: $45,000 for moderate-income buyers (<=~80% AMI); $10,000 for middle-income buyers (up to 100% MFI for 1-2 person, 115% MFI for 3+ person). Buyer contribution: Minimum buyer cash 1% of price or $1,000, whichever is less; retain 2 months of payments in cash after purchase; buyer asset income limited to $40,000 (excl. IRA/401k/529/HSA/day-care savings). The program can be combined with other assistance, subject to the rules of each. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority (ACRFA) / Allegheny County Economic Development determines any individual award.

Q: Do you have to pay it back?

1st Home Allegheny is forgiven after 6 years, so a buyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Sale, transfer, ceasing to occupy as primary residence, or renting before 6-year term; otherwise fully forgiven after 6 years of continuous owner-occupancy. The assistance is recorded in Subordinate (may be senior or subordinate case-by-case); RAAC holds 15-year right of first refusal at appraised value. position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Q: Who qualifies?

1st Home Allegheny is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: No home ownership in past 36 months (if divorced, none in own name in past 36 months). A homebuyer education course is required, through HUD-certified housing counseling program. DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-11): pending review. Buyer must retain min two months of payments in cash after purchase; asset income capped at $40,000; primary purchase funds must be a private mortgage (not gifts); RAAC right of first refusal for 15 years. Distinct from Pittsburgh URA programs. Note: an early news article cited 15-year forgiveness; official May 2025 guidelines PDF confirms a 6-year forgiveness term (15 years = the right-of-first-refusal window). No published min credit score, max DTI; income_limit_amount left blank (two tiered tables).

Q: What are the income limits?

1st Home Allegheny sets its income limit as follows: Pittsburgh MSA AMI by household size. $45,000 tier uses moderate-income limits (1 $60,100 ... 4 $85,850 ... 8 $113,350); $10,000 tier uses MFI middle-income limits (1 $86,480 ... capped $123,395). The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

Q: What kind of home can it be used for?

1st Home Allegheny caps the purchase price as follows: No stated maximum purchase price; loan capped at $45,000/$10,000 per household. Eligible property types include Single Family, Townhouse, and Condo.

Q: Where does it apply?

1st Home Allegheny serves buyers purchasing in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Q: How do you apply?

Applications for 1st Home Allegheny go through Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority (ACRFA) / Allegheny County Economic Development, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Processed through participating private lenders and HUD-certified counselors; ACRFA holds the mortgages. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Question 1

What is 1st Home Allegheny?

Accepted Answer

1st Home Allegheny is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, administered by Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority (ACRFA) / Allegheny County Economic Development. A forgivable-loan down payment and closing cost assistance program for first-time buyers purchasing in Allegheny County outside the City of Pittsburgh. Provides a $45,000 loan to moderate-income buyers (<=80% AMI) or $10,000 to middle-income buyers, at 0% interest, fully forgiven after six years of continuous owner-occupancy. Loans held by ACRFA; closing costs covered first, remainder to down payment. Launched May 2025, renewed April 2026. Up to $45,000 forgivable assistance. 0% interest. Covers closing costs and down payment. Fully forgiven after 6 years. Funding comes from Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority (ACRFA).

Question 2

How much assistance does it provide?

Accepted Answer

1st Home Allegheny offers between $10,000 and $45,000 in assistance. Award tiers: $45,000 for moderate-income buyers (<=~80% AMI); $10,000 for middle-income buyers (up to 100% MFI for 1-2 person, 115% MFI for 3+ person). Buyer contribution: Minimum buyer cash 1% of price or $1,000, whichever is less; retain 2 months of payments in cash after purchase; buyer asset income limited to $40,000 (excl. IRA/401k/529/HSA/day-care savings). The program can be combined with other assistance, subject to the rules of each. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority (ACRFA) / Allegheny County Economic Development determines any individual award.

Question 3

Do you have to pay it back?

Accepted Answer

1st Home Allegheny is forgiven after 6 years, so a buyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Sale, transfer, ceasing to occupy as primary residence, or renting before 6-year term; otherwise fully forgiven after 6 years of continuous owner-occupancy. The assistance is recorded in Subordinate (may be senior or subordinate case-by-case); RAAC holds 15-year right of first refusal at appraised value. position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Question 4

Who qualifies?

Accepted Answer

1st Home Allegheny is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: No home ownership in past 36 months (if divorced, none in own name in past 36 months). A homebuyer education course is required, through HUD-certified housing counseling program. DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-11): pending review. Buyer must retain min two months of payments in cash after purchase; asset income capped at $40,000; primary purchase funds must be a private mortgage (not gifts); RAAC right of first refusal for 15 years. Distinct from Pittsburgh URA programs. Note: an early news article cited 15-year forgiveness; official May 2025 guidelines PDF confirms a 6-year forgiveness term (15 years = the right-of-first-refusal window). No published min credit score, max DTI; income_limit_amount left blank (two tiered tables).

Question 5

What are the income limits?

Accepted Answer

1st Home Allegheny sets its income limit as follows: Pittsburgh MSA AMI by household size. $45,000 tier uses moderate-income limits (1 $60,100 ... 4 $85,850 ... 8 $113,350); $10,000 tier uses MFI middle-income limits (1 $86,480 ... capped $123,395). The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower&rsquo;s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

Question 6

What kind of home can it be used for?

Accepted Answer

1st Home Allegheny caps the purchase price as follows: No stated maximum purchase price; loan capped at $45,000/$10,000 per household. Eligible property types include Single Family, Townhouse, and Condo.

Question 7

Where does it apply?

Accepted Answer

1st Home Allegheny serves buyers purchasing in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Question 8

How do you apply?

Accepted Answer

Applications for 1st Home Allegheny go through Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority (ACRFA) / Allegheny County Economic Development, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Processed through participating private lenders and HUD-certified counselors; ACRFA holds the mortgages. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

1st Home Allegheny