This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Home Ownership issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Consumer advisory: Take action when home insurance is cancelled or costs surge
A notice from your insurer dropping your home insurance policy or imposing a dramatic price increase can feel like your largest investment is at risk. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers advice on what to do when your insurers make unexpected changes to your insurance coverage. (Aug. 30, 2023)
Disaster Relief Resources for Pennsylvania
List of links to govenment resources available to individuals and families recovering from the effects of natural and other disasters.
PA Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program supports homeowners and renters across Pennsylvania. This program provides a rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. This webpage from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue explains who is eligible for the rebate program and how to apply.
Reverse Mortgages: Know Before You Owe (Video)
This video from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides an overview of reverse mortgages for older consumers and their families. You’ll learn how reverse mortgages work and what issues you should consider before applying for one.
Tangled Title
A tangled title exists when the current occupant of the house is not on the deed, but believes themselves to be the owner. Learn about other indicators of a tangled title and why the title issue should be fixed.
The Dangers of Rent-to-Own Agreements (Video)
This video from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia explains some potential problems that may present themselves in a Rent-to-Own arrangement to purchase a house, whereby you live in the house as a tenant, pay rent each month, and have the rent count toward the purchase of the property.
What is Debt-To-Income Ratio and why does it matter? (Video)
If you’re looking into buying a house, you’ve probably been hearing a lot of new phrases like debt-to-income ratio or DTI. The CFPB can help you navigate the home buying process and understand any new financial terms you encounter along the way. (2019)
PA Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program supports homeowners and renters across Pennsylvania. This program provides a rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. This webpage from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue explains who is eligible for the rebate program and how to apply.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
How to Keep Someone off Your Property
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network about keeping people off your property and the law relating to defiant trespass.
Philadelphia Property Taxes: Frequently Asked Questions
Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on issues related to Philadelphia Real Estate Taxes. [PDF]
Resolving Tangled Title Issues
You may have a tangled title if you live in a house that you think you own and take care of, because you inherited it, but your name is not on the deed. It may also occur if you got the home are under a "rent-to-own" or "land contract" arrangement, or in some other way, and the deed is not in your name. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia offers information on how to deal with these issues that apply to situations both in Philadelphia and in other communities.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Tangled Title
A tangled title exists when the current occupant of the house is not on the deed, but believes themselves to be the owner. Learn about other indicators of a tangled title and why the title issue should be fixed.
The Dangers of Rent-to-Own Agreements (Video)
This video from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia explains some potential problems that may present themselves in a Rent-to-Own arrangement to purchase a house, whereby you live in the house as a tenant, pay rent each month, and have the rent count toward the purchase of the property.
The Philadelphia Property Tax Handbook
This manual from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is designed to guide Philadelphians, including taxpayers, tax professionals, and non-profit agencies, about the various tax relief programs that are available to help those who are struggling to pay their property taxes. It compiles the applications, instructions, and statutory provisions for each of these programs and provides a user-friendly summary of the most essential information. (2nd Edition - 2022)
Buying a Home
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. (2020)
Buying a Home
Buying a home may well be the largest financial transaction in which you will be involved. It is wise to proceed with caution and be aware of the legal importance of the basic steps involved in buying a home. This information from Erie County Bar Association lists the basic steps involved in buying a home. (2018)
Land Contracts
A land contract is an installment sale agreement for the sale of real estate. Under a land contract, the purchase price for the real estate is paid over time. The buyer may or may not make a down payment, but will usually make monthly payments until the purchase price, plus the interest, are paid in full. The seller retains legal title to the real estate until the purchase price is paid in full. This provides more information from the Erie County Bar Association on land contracts - installment sale agreements for the sale of real estate. (2018)
Land Disputes with Neighbors
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on common land disputes between neighbors including party driveways shared by neighbors, and disputes over a house, garage, fence, etc., found to be located on the property of the next door neighbor. (2018)
Selling a Home
Selling a home may well be the largest financial transaction in which you will be involved. It is wise to proceed with caution and be aware of the legal importance of the basic steps involved in selling a home. This information from the Erie County Bar Association outlines what you should know when planning to sell your home.(2018)
Shared Ownership of Land
Information on the shared ownership of land from the Erie County Bar Association. This includes information on the different forms of shared ownership and the legal rights of the parties involved in each different type of shared ownership. (2018)
Zoning
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on zoning laws that might affect your home or neighborhood. These zoning laws generally regulate how land can be used, and for what purpose.(2018)
A Reverse Mortgage Primer: Consumer Debt Advice from the National Consumer Law Center
This article focuses on reverse mortgages, including who should consider a reverse mortgage, how reverse mortgages work, the foreclosure risks, the impact on spouses, partners, and heirs, and whether taking out a reverse mortgage is a good idea. (May 2018)
Buying A Home - HUD
The homebuying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home! The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides these nine steps to buying a home.
Consumer advisory: Take action when home insurance is cancelled or costs surge
A notice from your insurer dropping your home insurance policy or imposing a dramatic price increase can feel like your largest investment is at risk. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers advice on what to do when your insurers make unexpected changes to your insurance coverage. (Aug. 30, 2023)
Does HUD Owe You a Refund?
Information and Fact Sheet regarding insured mortgages and whether you may be eligible for a HUD refund or share of any excess earnings from the FHA's Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. Fact Sheet also available in PDF
Home Equity Conversion Mortgages ( Reverse Mortgages) for Seniors
Reverse mortgages are increasing in popularity with seniors who have equity in their homes and want to remain in their homes or supplement their income. The only reverse mortgage insured by the U.S. Federal Government is called a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), and is only available through a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved lender. This is information from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on HECM, FHA's reverse mortgage program that enables you to withdraw a portion of your home's equity.
Homeowners Energy Efficiency Loan Program (HEELP)
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency provides the Homeowners Energy Efficiency Loan Program (HEELP) that offers loans between $1,000 and $10,000 for specific energy efficiency repairs at a fixed-rate of one percent (1%) for ten years with no prepayment penalties.
Homeowners Insurance Guide
A guide created by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to help you understand homeowners insurance. The guide provides information about types of coverage available, some tips on how to shop, and what you should do if you need to make a claim. (April 2017)
Housing Counseling Agencies in Philadelphia
Home ownership brings both rights and responsibilities. Philadelphia city-funded housing counseling agencies can help. Housing counselors can help prepare people to buy a home. They assist tenants fighting eviction. They help homeowners facing foreclosure. And they can help address specific issues facing seniors and people with disabilities. Download an English, Spanish or Simplified Chinese flyer with a current list of Department of Housing and Community Development-funded Housing Counseling Agencies.
HUD Home Buyer's Kit
This kit offers information on each stage of finding and buying your own home.
PA Courts Public Access Policy - Filing Requirements in the Courts (Video)
Effective on January 6, 2018, a new Public Access Policy is in effect in Pennsylvania Courts. This policy imposes requirements on anyone filing court documents in the trial and appellate courts to safeguard information in the documents they file. The Pennsylvania Courts have released a series of videos that explain the judiciary’s new policy for protecting confidential information and the required steps you must take to protect that information when filing documents in the courts. This video provides an overview of the new requirements. Follow the link to view the entire series of videos.
PA Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program supports homeowners and renters across Pennsylvania. This program provides a rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. This webpage from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue explains who is eligible for the rebate program and how to apply.
Reverse Mortgages
Information in a Q & A format from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency designed to help you better understand reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgages are complex loans and are secured by your home. It is important to understand the terms, risks, and costs before you sign a reverse mortgage contract. Make sure to consider alternatives to reverse mortgages.
Reverse Mortgages: Know Before You Owe (Video)
This video from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides an overview of reverse mortgages for older consumers and their families. You’ll learn how reverse mortgages work and what issues you should consider before applying for one.
What is Debt-To-Income Ratio and why does it matter? (Video)
If you’re looking into buying a house, you’ve probably been hearing a lot of new phrases like debt-to-income ratio or DTI. The CFPB can help you navigate the home buying process and understand any new financial terms you encounter along the way. (2019)
Figuring Out FEMA
“Figuring Out FEMA,” a pocket-sized visual resource for disaster survivors. The guide makes complex information about the Federal Emergency Management Agency accessible to people who need the assistance of the agency.
My Home: Your Step-by-Step to Buying and Financing a Home
Information from My Home by Freddie Mac for you to consider as you enter into the home buying process and enter into a mortgage.
Get Help with Philadelphia Property Taxes
Philadelphia released new assessments of property values, which they will use to calculate 2023 property tax bills. If your assessed value went up, your property taxes will, too. Community Legal Services has information on how to appeal your assessment (and the amount of your property taxes), and find programs to help you with payments.
Legal Assistance Program for Tenants and Homeowners in Pittsburgh
The Legal Assistance Program (LAP) of the Urban Development Program of Pittsburgh provides a variety of free housing legal services to eligible tenants and homeowners who live in the City of Pittsburgh. Income limits apply for services.
Resolving Tangled Title Issues
You may have a tangled title if you live in a house that you think you own and take care of, because you inherited it, but your name is not on the deed. It may also occur if you got the home are under a "rent-to-own" or "land contract" arrangement, or in some other way, and the deed is not in your name. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia offers information on how to deal with these issues that apply to situations both in Philadelphia and in other communities.
The Philadelphia Property Tax Handbook
This manual from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is designed to guide Philadelphians, including taxpayers, tax professionals, and non-profit agencies, about the various tax relief programs that are available to help those who are struggling to pay their property taxes. It compiles the applications, instructions, and statutory provisions for each of these programs and provides a user-friendly summary of the most essential information. (2nd Edition - 2022)