MD Mortgage and Down Payment Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn About Program Eligibility, Application Process And Other Helpful Information

​​​​​To be able to apply for a home loan through the Maryland Mortgage Program, homebuyers need to meet certain eligibility criteria, although total household income requirements are based on all adults who will be living in the property.​​​​​

In all cases, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid social security number. Note that U.S. citizenship is not required to be eligible. ​​​​

Someone who has not owned residential property for three years or more is considered a “First-Time Homebuyer.” First-Time Homebuyers who meet household income limits (see next section) can use the Maryland Mortgage Program to purchase a home anywhere in Maryland.​​​​​

The First-Time Homebuyer requirement does not apply for homebuyers purchasing in Targeted Areas, veterans using their exemption for the first time, or borrowers using Flex loan products (without mortgage credit certificates). Borrowers should talk to their lender for more information.

To use the Maryland Mortgage Program, the total “Household Income” of homebuyers needs to be at or below certain limits, and those limits vary by location and household size.​​​​​

Household Income is the combined incomes of all people 18 years of age or over who live in a household. It includes every form of income, including salaries and wages, retirement income, near cash government transfers like food stamps, and investment gains.

Each Maryland county and Baltimore City has defined Household Income limits. In counties that have Targeted Areas covering part of the jurisdiction, Household Income limits differ inside and outside those areas.

Yes. The Maryland Mortgage Program can only be used to finance the purchase of a home that will be occupied by the homebuyer(s) as their primary residence, and homebuyers may not own other residential property.

Homebuyers who have “liquid assets” of at least 20% of the purchase price of the property MAY not be eligible to use the Maryland Mortgage Program. Gifts in the form of cash or equity are generally considered liquid assets.

A “liquid asset” is cash on hand or an asset that can be readily converted to cash. An asset that can readily be converted into cash is similar to cash itself because the asset can be sold with little impact on its value.

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