Pennsylvania Archives

Getting over the hurdle of property tax payments is harder these days. That’s because taxable home values have gone up.

So older Pennsylvanians are praising their governor, Josh Shapiro, for signing Act 7 of 2023 into law. It enlarges Pennsylvania’s Property Tax / Rent Rebate (PTRR). Hundreds of thousands of people — those who own, and those who rent — will benefit from the change. They include: Pennsylvanians aged 65 and up; surviving spouses aged 50 and up; and people with disabilities who are at least 18 years old.

The modified law takes effect in January 2024. But you need to know about it in order to get it! So here’s a Q&A to describe what’s going on.

Pittsburgh, the City of Bridges, is often described as affordable, and a great place to live. But lately, inflation has settled into Pittsburgh’s real estate. Home prices have risen. Rents have gone up. And so has just about everything else.

Now, Pittsburgh is tapping $15 million in American Rescue Plan funds to help first-time buyers reach their goals, through an initiative called OwnPGH. As of the time of this writing, no start date has been set. But informational sessions are open for reservations.

Here’s what interested present and future Pittsburgh residents should anticipate as OwnPGH gets under way this year.

Category: Pennsylvania

A Ray of Sunshine for Older and Disabled Residents: Pennsylvania’s Amped-Up Property Tax Assistance Can Help

Pittsburgh Is Rolling Out OwnPGH to Help People Buy—and Keep—Houses and Condos