The Maryland Mortgage Program: Down Payment Assistance Explained
Maryland does down payment help differently: you pick your amount from a menu, repeat buyers qualify, and outside programs can be matched. Here is the full Maryland Mortgage Program, plain and simple.
You choose your down payment amount
Most state programs hand you one down payment amount. Maryland gives you a menu. On a Maryland Mortgage Program loan you can take 3%, 4%, or 5% of the first mortgage as assistance, or a flat $6,000, or 6% through the HomeStart product if your income is at or below 50% of the area median. Every option is a zero-percent deferred second mortgage, no monthly payment, repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first. Picking the right amount for your purchase is the whole game, and it is what we help you do.
The DPA menu at a glance
| Option | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Time Advantage 3% / 4% / 5% | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan | Pick the percentage that fits |
| 1st Time Advantage $6,000 | Flat $6,000 | A fixed amount |
| HomeStart 6% | 6% of the loan | Households at/below 50% of AMI |
| Flex (repeat buyers) | Same menu | No first-time requirement |
| Partner Match | Matches outside DPA | Layers approved partner funds |
All DPA is a 0% deferred second, repaid at sale/refinance/payoff. Compare the amounts on our DPA options page.
First-time or repeat: 1st Time Advantage vs. Flex
The DPA menu comes on two product lines. 1st Time Advantage is for first-time buyers. Flex is for everyone else, buyers who have owned a home before, and it carries the same down payment options. So Maryland does not shut out move-up buyers the way many state programs do. See our Flex page for the repeat-buyer path.
Partner Match: stacking outside help
Maryland’s quietest advantage is Partner Match. If you qualify for down payment help from an approved partner, an employer, a local government, a community program, the Maryland Mortgage Program can add matching funds on top. That lets a buyer layer assistance from more than one source, which is unusual. See our Partner Match page.
Verified August 2026 against the MMP Product Matrix and fact sheets (Maryland Mortgage Program). Income and sales-price limits are volatile and set by jurisdiction, confirm at mmp.maryland.gov. This is not a commitment to lend; rates are posted on the operator’s site.
Common questions
What is the Maryland Mortgage Program?
The Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) is the state's homebuying program: a first mortgage (conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA) paired with a menu of down payment assistance, 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan, a flat $6,000, or 6% through HomeStart, all as 0% deferred seconds. First-time buyers use 1st Time Advantage; repeat buyers use Flex.
How much down payment assistance can I get in Maryland?
You choose from a menu: 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan, a flat $6,000, or 6% (HomeStart, for households at/below 50% of AMI). Approved outside assistance can be matched through Partner Match. All are 0% deferred second mortgages with no monthly payment.
What credit score do I need for the Maryland Mortgage Program?
A 640 minimum credit score. First mortgages are conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA, and income and sales-price limits are set by jurisdiction. Homebuyer education is required.
See which Maryland option fits you
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.