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PITTSBURGH – Today Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato introduced 1st Home Allegheny, a new program designed to assist future Allegheny County homeowners in purchasing their first home. The program is financed through the Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority (RFA) and administered by Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED). 1st Home Allegheny is designed to make homeownership more accessible and attainable for income-eligible residents in Allegheny County.
Allegheny County Economic Development has engaged ACTION-Housing as an administrative partner to work with participating financial institutions in receiving and processing applications. 1st Home Allegheny will begin taking applications from participating lenders on behalf of homebuyers on May 15th. Approximately $2.6 million has been allocated to the program through the Residential Finance Authority and applications will be received and reviewed on a first come first serve basis.
“My administration is focused on building an Allegheny County for all, and that includes creating a county where homeownership is accessible to more people at all income levels,” said County Executive Sara Innamorato. “I’m so thrilled we’re able to launch this program to help dozens of first-time homebuyers get closer to their dreams this year.”
Financial support is available to purchase a home throughout Allegheny County, with the exception of the City of Pittsburgh. Existing programs are available to individuals seeking homeownership opportunities within Pittsburgh. Eligible homebuyers may receive assistance in the form of a fully forgivable loan of up to $45,000, depending on their household income. These funds can be used to cover closing costs and contribute toward a down payment—making the upfront costs of purchasing a home significantly more manageable.
The loan is forgiven if the homeowner remains the owner-occupant of the home for six years. To qualify, buyers must meet specific income requirements based on a tiered income structure—ranging from $68,700 for a two-person household at 80% of the area median income (AMI) to $123,000 for a five-person household at 115% of AMI.
Buyers must be first-time homeowners, able to secure a primary mortgage, and contribute a minimum of $1,000 of their own funds toward their purchase. Additional requirements include completing a HUD-certified counseling program and maintaining at least two months’ worth of mortgage payments in savings post-closing.
“The goal is to provide direct support to households who are ready to buy but may lack the resources to overcome upfront costs,” said Lauren Connelly, Director of Allegheny County Economic Development. “By expanding access to homeownership, we are not only building individual financial stability and resilience but also strengthening neighborhoods and reducing long term social disparities. 1st Home Allegheny is an important step toward building more resilient and equitable communities."
1st Home Allegheny is funded through $2.6 million in single-family mortgage revenue bond proceeds issued by the Residential Finance Authority. ACTION-Housing will receive and review applications for approval.
“The 1st Home Allegheny program introduces housing solutions to promote homeownership in the region. ACTION Housing is thrilled to partner with Allegheny County on this initiative. Together, we aim to help more individuals and families in our community achieve their dream of owning a home. We look forward to connecting residents with the resources they need to turn this dream into a reality," said Dan Sullivan, Housing Stabilization Program Manager at ACTION-Housing, Inc.
The funds are managed by RFA, which also covers administrative costs associated with running the program. All loan proceeds will be used solely for mortgage assistance, in partnership with local banks who will provide the primary mortgage financing. The program is funded solely by proceeds from the Residential Finance Authority.
Participating Lender Institutions
First Commonwealth Bank
Joseph Tomaceski
412-495-2337
jtomaceski@fcbanking.com
SSB Bank
Heather Dieckmann
412-837-6955
hdieckmann@ssbpgh.com
Dollar Bank
Steve Kaminski
412-261-4219
SKaminski205@dollarbank.com
For details on the 1st Home Allegheny County Homebuyer Program, visit AlleghenyCounty.us/1sthome or contact us at 1sthomeallegheny@alleghenycounty.us
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