PHFA Grant
Provides a $500 grant to assist with down payment and closing costs when obtaining the HFA Preferred™ (Lo MI) loan.
Verify program detailsState homebuying guide
Pennsylvania Mortgage Calculator Guide
The temptation with a mortgage calculator is to focus on principal and interest and call the job finished. In Pennsylvania, I would use this page to keep the other moving parts visible: down payment, property-tax assumptions, insurance, possible PMI, and cash-to-close assistance. The current benchmark is $290,400, and this guide covers 50 city calculators. That sequence keeps the first estimate simple without hiding the local details that can change a real monthly payment.
- State benchmark
- $290,400
- City calculators
- 50
Need more than a statewide benchmark?
Use the complete mortgage payment and affordability calculator to enter your own purchase price, income, debts, loan program, closing costs, and extra-payment plan.
Down-payment comparison
What 5%, 10%, and 20% down could look like in Pennsylvania
These examples use the $290,400 statewide benchmark, a 6.75% 30-year fixed planning rate, the 1.50% midpoint property-tax assumption, and 0.35% annually for homeowners insurance. PMI is illustrated at 1% annually below 20% down.
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan amount | Principal & interest | Property tax | Insurance & PMI | Estimated monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | $14,520 | $275,880 | $1,789 | $363 | $327 | $2,479 |
| 10% | $29,040 | $261,360 | $1,695 | $363 | $327 | $2,385 |
| 20% | $58,080 | $232,320 | $1,507 | $363 | $85 | $1,955 |
The examples do not include HOA dues, closing costs, discount points, lender fees, flood insurance, or property-specific insurance adjustments. Change the city calculator inputs before using a result for a budget.
Local variation
Why one Pennsylvania estimate should not represent every city
The available city-page tax assumptions run from 0.82% for Philadelphia to 2.64% for Johnstown, with a midpoint of 1.50% used in the statewide examples. That spread is a reminder to verify the parcel, assessment, exemptions, and taxing district before relying on a monthly number. Philadelphia and Lebanon and Johnstown are useful starting points for seeing how the planning assumptions vary inside Pennsylvania.
These are effective-rate planning assumptions from 2024 public data, published in this system in 2026. Actual tax bills depend on assessed value, exemptions, levies, and the property's taxing districts.
Cash-to-close research
Homebuyer assistance in Pennsylvania
The state-level research list currently contains 8 programs. PHFA Grant and Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan Program are included as a place to begin, not as a promise of approval. Funding, income limits, first-time-buyer definitions, participating lenders, and eligible locations can change, so I would confirm the current rules before counting assistance as cash available at closing.
Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan Program
Offers a second mortgage loan up to $6,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance, with a 0% interest rate and no monthly payments.
Verify program detailsACCESS Home Modification Program
Provides loans up to $10,000 to assist persons with disabilities in making accessibility modifications to their homes.
Verify program detailsWhole-Home Repairs Program
Offers grants up to $50,000 for habitability, safety, and accessibility improvements for eligible homeowners.
Verify program detailsA practical review
Before relying on a Pennsylvania payment estimate
01
Replace the statewide Pennsylvania benchmark with the price of the homes actually being considered.
02
Open the relevant city calculator and verify the property-tax assumption against the parcel or local assessor.
03
Get a property-specific homeowners-insurance estimate and add HOA dues when they apply.
04
Compare several interest rates and down payments instead of budgeting from one optimistic scenario.
05
Confirm assistance rules with the official program source before reducing estimated cash to close.
Local calculators
Mortgage calculators across Pennsylvania
Move from the statewide benchmark to the city that matches the actual search area. Each page carries its local tax geography, home-value benchmark, and nearby comparisons.
50 city pages
Common questions
Planning a mortgage in Pennsylvania
How much is an estimated mortgage payment in Pennsylvania?
Using the current $290,400 statewide home-value benchmark, 20% down, a 6.75% 30-year planning rate, the 1.50% midpoint property-tax assumption, and a 0.35% insurance assumption, the estimated monthly payment is $1,955. Actual property, loan, tax, and insurance details can differ.
Does the Pennsylvania mortgage estimate include property taxes?
Yes. The statewide examples use a 1.50% midpoint from the available city-page assumptions. A property-specific estimate should use the actual parcel, assessment, exemptions, and local taxing districts.
How much down payment should I compare in Pennsylvania?
The page compares 5%, 10%, and 20% down. A smaller down payment reduces upfront cash but can increase the loan balance and may add mortgage insurance. Program and loan requirements vary.
Where should I verify Pennsylvania homebuyer assistance?
Start with each linked official program source. Verify current funding, income limits, purchase-price limits, property rules, participating lenders, and first-time-buyer definitions before relying on assistance.
Planning rate
6.75%
Tax midpoint
1.50%
Benchmark period
August 2026
Continue planning
Connect this estimate to the rest of your budget
Use the next calculator only when that part of your financial picture affects the decision you are making here.