Skip to main content

First Front Door Program

The 2024 First Front Door funding round is now open!

Buying your first home? CACL offers a first-time homebuyer grant program, funded by FHLBank of Pittsburgh. This program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers, while grant support money lasts.

Through the First Front Door (FFD) Program, qualified home buyers who contribute a minimum of $1,500 can receive a grant up to $15,000.

Who qualifies for  First Front Door?

To qualify for the first front door program, you must:

  • Be a first-time home buyer obtaining a conventional mortgage (which means you haven't owned a home within the past three years, or you owned a home only while married but not as a single person within the last three years. This includes a married couple if either has not owned a home in the past three years)
  • Contribute personal funds as part of the down payment and closing costs.
  • Have household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income at the time of registration.
  • Complete at least four hours of home ownership counseling, including the topic of predatory lending, prior to the purchase of the home.
  • If a student, work at least 30 hours a week.
  • Close your mortgage with the lender that received approval from Federal Home Loan Bank for First Front Door grant.

How does First Front Door work?

Home buyers must complete a 6-step process to receive a FFD grant:

  • Contact a CACL Mortgage representative at 570-628-2400 EXT: 136 to discuss eligibility.
  • Collect your financial information, submit purchase application and FFD registration request with the CACL Mortgage Loan Specialist.
  • FHLBank will process and approve the request within 10 days.
  • Prospective home buyer will buy their home within six months, after attending counseling.
  • First mortgage and eligible grant amount is provided to the home buyer.
Visit First Front Door to learn more about the grant and eligibility.

Applying for First Front Door

Contact the CACL Mortgage Loan Specialist at 570-628-2400 EXT: 136.