Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP) is a HUD certified Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). LHOP offers homebuyer education and down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers (restrictions may apply).
Homebuyer Education
Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Class
This 8-hour course is offered in English and Spanish and held during a one-day class or a three-day evening class. Presenters are local lenders, realtors, insurance agents and home inspectors, who cover subject matter from a real-life perspective.
When you are done the Homebuyer Class, you will be able to answer these questions;
- Am I ready to get a mortgage?
- What payment is affordable for me?
- How do I find my house?
- How do I know the house is good investment?
- How do I protect my house?
Upon completing the class and meeting the course standards attendees will be issued a certificate which satisfies requirements to obtain FHA, Conventional, PHFA, VA, and USDA mortgage products through local participating lenders.
Homebuyer Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program
Eligible applicants looking to purchase within Lancaster City or County, may qualify for a loan through LHOP’s Homebuyer Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program.
Programs are governed by local, state, and/or federal regulations which requires interested parties to attend Pre-purchase Homebuyer Class.
These loans are provided in combination with mortgage products offered by Partner Lenders to purchase homes located in Lancaster City and County and at the minimum meet FHA requirements.
Participants wishing to be considered for a loan are encouraged to contact Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership or a Partner Lender as soon as possible to discuss approval and qualification criteria. For more information on program requirements please review LHOP Homebuyer Down payment and Closing Cost Assistance Eligibility Requirements.
Income Guidelines will be changing effective January 1, 2020.
Standard LHOP Homebuyer Loan Product
The LHOP loan of up to $5,000.00 is in the form of a 0% interest loan with no monthly payments.
Specialized LHOP Loan Products
Designated program areas (restrictions apply)
- Columbia Borough- LHOP offers loans of up to $10,000 in the form of a 0% interest loan with no monthly payments (restrictions apply).
- South West Lancaster (SOWE)- LHOP offers loans of up to $7,500 in the form of a 0% interest loan with no monthly payments.