Monroe County First-Time Homebuyer Program: Up to $25,000 Toward Your Down Payment and Closing Costs

In short: Monroe County's First-Time Homebuyer Program lends eligible first-time buyers up to $20,000, or 20% of the purchase price if that is less, at 0% interest for the down payment and closing costs, plus $5,000 more for buyers who have lived in Monroe County for the past 12 months. The loan is a second mortgage that is forgiven 10% a year, so after 10 years in the home you owe nothing. Household income must be at or below 100% of the county median ($99,188 for a household of four, as of October 2026), and the program is run by the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Monroe.

How much you can get

• A no-interest second mortgage of up to $20,000, or 20% of the purchase price, whichever is less. It can go toward the down payment, the closing costs or both.
• $5,000 more if you have lived in Monroe County for at least the past 12 months in a row.

For example, on a $200,000 home, 20% would be $40,000, so the $20,000 limit applies. A buyer who has lived in the county for the past year could get $25,000 in all.

The program is a partnership between the Monroe County Commissioners, the Monroe County Affordable Housing Board and participating mortgage lenders, paid for by the county's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must:

• Be a first-time homebuyer, as the program defines it.
• Have a household income at or below 100% of Monroe County's median income (see the limits below).
• Put in at least 3% of the purchase price from your own money.
• Buy an existing home in Monroe County. New construction does not qualify.
• Live in the home as your primary residence.
• Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
• Complete a pre-purchase homeownership counseling workshop approved by HUD.
• Qualify for a first mortgage with a participating lender, which means good credit and the ability to make the monthly payments.

Income limits

These are the limits the Redevelopment Authority lists as of October 2026. They are set each year from HUD's median income for Monroe County, so confirm them when you apply.

How the loan is forgiven

The assistance is a second mortgage on the home with no interest and no monthly payments. Each year you live in the home, 10% of it is forgiven, so after 10 years you owe nothing.

During those 10 years, you may have to repay what is left if:

• You sell or transfer the home.
• You stop living in it as your primary residence.
• You pay off your first mortgage, or refinance it for more than the original purchase price.
• You default on either mortgage.
• The application had incomplete, false or misleading information.

How to apply

1. Call the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Monroe at (570) 421-4300, or email info@monroecountyrda.org, to confirm you are eligible. You can apply online through the portal on its website, monroecountyrda.org. The office is at 701 Main Street, Suite 502, in Stroudsburg.
2. Complete a HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling workshop.
3. Get pre-approved for your first mortgage with a participating lender.
4. Find an existing home in Monroe County that fits the program, then make your offer.

How Ryth helps

Ryth helps first-time buyers use this program from start to finish, in English or Spanish. He connects you with participating lenders, looks for homes that fit the program's rules, and keeps your offer, the lender and the Redevelopment Authority on the same timeline so the assistance is ready at settlement. Call or text him at 929.345.6838 for more information about the program.

For the rest of the process, see the first-time home buyer guide and Closing costs in Pennsylvania.

Sources

• Redevelopment Authority of the County of Monroe: First-Time Homebuyer Program (amounts, income limits and rules)
• The Redevelopment Authority's online application portal

What clients say

I have never met someone so willing to go the extra mile for his clients. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Ryth — thanks to his dedication, guidance, and hard work, I was able to close on my dream home. Ryth is young, but he is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and always willing to help.

For me it has been a great pleasure working with Ryth, a young man who showed great wisdom and helped us find the property we were looking for under the desired conditions. Thank you for everything — we are very happy with his work.

Questions

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