412-464-4000
Buying your first home? You may be able to get up to $5,000 towards down payment and closing costs through the First Front Door (FFD) program, funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.
Under FFD, qualified homebuyers can receive a 3-to-1 matching contribution from a participating FFD lender. That means that for every $1 you contribute, you can receive $3 in grant assistance, up to a maximum of $5,000, says Jonathan Weaver, housing counselor at Mon Valley Initiative, with offices in Homestead and Charleroi.
Qualified first-time homebuyers can use FFD grants toward closing costs and down payment assistance on eligible properties that are intended as the primary residence of the homebuyer at the time of program enrollment.
Eligible homes include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and modular units. Manufactured homes may be eligible if they are permanently affixed to a site. Investment properties are not eligible for FFD assistance.
To be eligible you must:
• Be a first-time homebuyer (you have not owned a home in the past three years, or owned only as a married person and are now single)
• Have an income at or below 80 percent of the area median income
• Be willing to complete four hours of homeownership counseling. (Approved counseling is offered through Mon Valley Initiative.)
To get free, personalized housing counseling from MVI — and receive help applying for the First Front Door program — contact Jonathan Weaver at 412-464-4000, ext. 4008 or 724-565-8040, ext. 1; or email jweaver@monvalleyinitiative.com.