Counseling Agencies
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA or the Agency) offers competitive, 30-year fixed-interest rate home purchase loans. Assistance loans are also available to eligible buyers. PHFA loans are originated, processed, and closed by a network of All Counties. The loans and servicing rights are then purchased by the Agency following settlement.
The PHFA network of ALL COUNTIES provides homebuyer counseling and education that can include credit counseling. Buyers with a FICO credit score lower than 680 are required to attend a course prior to closing on their loan. PHFA also has a number of counseling initiatives that cover topics such as homeownership, predatory lending, rural development, and HUD SuperNOFA.
Counseling agencies are also a vital part of PHFA's Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP), a Foreclosure Prevention Program. Homeowners seeking HEMAP assistance must meet with designated counseling agencies after receiving an Act 91 Notice. HEMAP approved counseling agencies prepare applications and forward the information to PHFA for processing. During this period while applications are processed, foreclosure actions cease as long as the procedural time limits are met.
PHFA has numerous opportunities for vendors to provide products and services to the Agency throughout the year. To find opportunities regarding the provision of housing and foreclosure intervention counseling services throughout the statewide system of PHFA counseling agencies, please visit our "Procurement Opportunities" Web page.