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Pennsylvania Home Ownership Coalition

Housing is a big part of your budget, if not the biggest. As with any major purchase, you need to know what your options are (renting vs. buying, renting to own), the costs involved (appraisals, inspections, insurance, taxes and a mortgage) and what happens if you get in over your head (foreclosure).

This section of moneysbestfriend.com covers all that plus the basics of renting and buying, what real estate and buyer’s agents do and what’s involved in buying land. For tips on smart borrowing, see the Home section.

If you own a home, you may want to find out how to get money it (through refinancing or a home equity loan) or what you should know about putting more money into your home (through home repairs or major purchases).

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Pennsylvania Housing
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) helps people who want to buy homes, offers information about renting, and can help homeowners who are facing foreclosure.  Learn more…

All the Basics
Visit the website of the Pennsylvania office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to learn about resources for homeowners and renters. Learn more ...

Government Guides
See the Home Ownership section of My Money.gov for more resources on housing, loans and consumer protections. Learn more ...
 
HUD Help
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers numerous programs for renters and homeowners alike. See the HUD website for information and links. Learn more ...

Meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are private, government sponsored companies that seek to make home loans affordable to low- and middle-income borrowers.  Both have helpful information at their websites.

Programs by City/Town

Housing Counseling Agencies
More than 30 housing counseling agencies offer free counseling services to first-time buyers of homes in the City of Philadelphia. Eligibility requirements apply.

What types of services are provided?
Professionally trained housing counselors at each agency conduct free group and individual counseling sessions on prepurchase topics such as:

• personal credit repair and credit maintenance;
• money management through budgeting;
• rights and responsibilities of homeowners;
• the mortgage application and purchase process;
• financial assistance programs;
• maintenance of the house.

Most housing counseling agencies offer free services after you buy a home including:

• mortgage delinquency and default counseling;
• foreclosure prevention and intervention counseling;
• identifying and avoiding predatory lending practices.

Who is eligible?
To be eligible for free housing counseling, you must be buying a home for the first time. The house must be a single-family property located in Philadelphia in which you will live. You must apply before signing an agreement of sale. Your annual income cannot be more than the amount listed below for the number of people living in your household.

How do I apply?
Contact one of the housing counseling agencies listed below. Before you call, get the following information together so you can give it to the housing counselor:

1. amount of total annual household income;
2. source of that income (employment, SSI, DPA, etc.);
3. number of people in your household

Income Eligibility Chart

1. Household Size	Maximum Annual Household Income
   1	$40,400
   2	$46,150
   3	$51,950
   4	$57,700
   5	$62,300
   6	$66,950
   7	$71,550
   8	$76,150

For households larger than eight, add $4,616 for each member.
(Income guidelines subject to change)

ActionAIDS, Inc.**
1216 Arch St., 6th Floor
Phila., PA 19107
215-981-0088

ACORN Housing Corp. of PA
846 N. Broad St.
Phila., PA 19130
215-765-1221

Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM)
600 W. Diamond St.
Phila., PA 19122
215-235-6070

Carroll Park Community Council†
5218 Master St.
Phila., PA 19131
215-877-1157

Center in the Park* (Senior Center)
5818 Germantown Ave.
Phila., PA 19144
215-849-5100

Centro Pedro Claver
523 W. Erie Ave.
Phila., PA 19140
215-227-7111

Concilio
705-709 N. Franklin St.
Phila., PA 19123
215-627-3100

Congreso de Latinos Unidos
216 W. Somerset St.
Phila., PA 19133
215-763-8870

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley
1515 Market St.
Suite 1325
Phila., PA 19102
215-563-5665

Diversified Community Services (Dixon House)
1920 S. 20th St.
Phila., PA 19145
215-336-3511

Germantown Settlement
5538 C Wayne Ave.
Phila., PA 19144
215-849-3105

Hispanic Association of Contractors & Enterprises (HACE): Central Office
167 W. Allegheny Ave.
Suite 200
Phila., PA 19140
215-426-8025

HACE: Frankford Office
4620 Griscom St.
Phila., PA 19124
215-488-7007

Housing Association of Delaware Valley: Counseling Site Office
658 N. Watts St.
Phila., PA 19123
215-978-0224

Intercommunity Action*
(Senior Center)
6012 Ridge Ave.
Phila., PA 19128
215-487-0914

Intercultural Family Services
4225 Chestnut St.
Phila., PA 19104
215-386-1298

Korean Community Development Services Center†
6055 N. 5th St.
Phila., PA 19120
215-276-8830

Liberty Resources
714 Market St.
Suite 100
Phila., PA 19106
215-634-2000

Mt. Airy USA
6703 Germantown Ave.
Suite 200
Phila., PA 19119
215-844-6021

New Kensington CDC
2513-15 Frankford Ave.
Phila., PA 19125
215-427-0350 x 0

Norris Square Civic Association
149 W. Susquehanna Ave.
Phila., PA 19122
215-426-8723

Northwest Counseling Service†
5001 N. Broad St.
Phila., PA 19141
215-324-7500

Nueva Esperanza
4261 N. 5th St.
Phila., PA 19140
215-324-0746

Philadelphia Council for Community Advancement
100 N. 17th St.,
Suite 500
Phila., PA 19103
215-567-7803

Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services
121 N. Broad St.,
Suite 502
Phila., PA 19107
215-988-9879

Philadelphia Senior Center*
509 S. Broad St.
Phila., PA 19147
215-546-5879

Southwest CDC
6328 Paschall Ave.
Phila., PA 19142
215-729-3948

Tenant Union Representative Network**
1315 Walnut St.,
3rd Floor
Phila., PA 19107
215-940-3900

The Partnership CDC
4020 Market St.,
Suite 100
Phila., PA 19104
215-662-1612

Unemployment Information Center*
1201 Chestnut St., Room 702
Phila., PA 19107
215-557-0822

United Communities Southeast Philadelphia†
2029 S. 8th St.
Phila., PA 19148
215-467-8700

Urban League of Philadelphia
1818 Market St.,
20th Floor
Phila., PA 19103
215-561-6070

West Oak Lane CDC
6259 Limekiln Pike
Phila., PA 19141
215-224-0880

Women Against Abuse**
P.O. Box 13758
Phila., PA 19101
215-386-1280

Note: agencies subject to change

† Not wheelchair accessible

* No Settlement Grant counseling

** No Settlement Grant or anti-predatory lending counseling