Buying a home in Pennsylvania

Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in Pennsylvania.

Effective property tax rate

1.3%

Median tax $3,311 ÷ median value $254,500 (ACS 2020–2024)

Typical home value

$290,401

Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08

State transfer tax

1.0%

Usually paid by: split. 72 P.S. § 8101-C (Realty Transfer Tax Act). Official source. Local taxes may add more.

Estimated buyer closing costs Estimate

$4,700–$6,400

On a $290,401 home: typical lender fees + title insurance + deed recording (TallyClose) + the buyer’s share of transfer/recording taxes. Excludes prepaids, escrow and local taxes.

At Pennsylvania's effective rate of 1.3%, a typical $290,401 home would owe about $3,775/year ($315/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-10-15.