Can you rent an apartment or buy a home after receiving a bankruptcy discharge?

Yes - filing for bankruptcy in Philadelphia and obtaining a discharge does not eliminate you from renting an apartment or buying a home. WHY? Because that discharge you received eliminated a majority of your debts, freeing up funds that could be put towards a rental deposit or settlement costs. These debts are removed from your credit report, improving your "income to debt ratio" a formula that creditors may review in making their decisions. Of course the final decision will rest with the landlord or mortgage company upon review of your application.