Baltimore Down Payment Assistance (Maryland Mortgage Program)
Baltimore has some of the most attainable prices of any big East Coast metro, and the Maryland Mortgage Program adds a menu of down payment help on top. Here is how it works across Baltimore City and County.
How the Maryland Mortgage Program works in Baltimore
Baltimore is one of the most attainable large metros on the East Coast, and the Maryland Mortgage Program stretches further here as a result. MMP pairs a first mortgage, conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA, with a menu of down payment assistance you choose from: 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan, a flat $6,000, or 6% through HomeStart for lower-income households. Every option is a zero-percent deferred second with no monthly payment, repaid only when you sell or refinance. A 640 credit score qualifies, and because Baltimore prices are moderate, the DPA covers a real share of a typical purchase.
Buying across Baltimore City and County
The region gives first-time buyers a wide map. In the city, neighborhoods like Hamilton, Belair-Edison, Waverly, and parts of the west and southeast carry affordable rowhomes, and the city has its own local incentives that can layer through Partner Match. Baltimore County spreads out to Dundalk, Essex, Catonsville, Parkville, and Owings Mills, and neighboring Anne Arundel and Howard counties are common move-up markets. MMP works across all of them, with limits set by jurisdiction.
Layering local help with Partner Match
Here is a Baltimore-specific advantage. The city and various community programs offer their own down payment help, and MMP’s Partner Match can add matching funds on top of an approved outside program. So a Baltimore buyer using a city incentive may be able to stack MMP DPA and a Partner Match on top, stretching the total assistance further. It is exactly the kind of layering we sort out. See how the DPA options work on our DPA options page.
The Maryland Mortgage Program sets income and sales-price limits by jurisdiction and household size, and publishes the current figures on the Maryland Mortgage Program. Confirm your county limits before relying on one. See our eligibility page.
Common questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Baltimore?
Through the Maryland Mortgage Program you choose your DPA amount: 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan, a flat $6,000, or 6% through HomeStart for lower-income households. All are 0% deferred seconds with no monthly payment. Local Baltimore programs may layer on through Partner Match.
Is Baltimore down payment assistance a grant?
No. Maryland Mortgage Program DPA is a 0% deferred second mortgage, not a grant. There is no monthly payment, but it is repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage.
Can repeat buyers get down payment assistance in Baltimore?
Yes. The Maryland Mortgage Program's Flex line serves repeat buyers, not just first-time buyers. A 640 credit score is required, and the same DPA menu applies.
Ready to see your options?
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your Maryland path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.