Maryland Partner Match: Stack Outside Down Payment Help
Maryland's Partner Match lets you layer the state's down payment assistance on top of help from an approved employer, local government, or community program. Here is how the matching works.
What Partner Match is
Most down payment programs cannot be combined, you pick one and that is it. Maryland’s Partner Match is the exception. If you qualify for down payment help from an approved partner, say, an employer homeownership benefit, a county or city program, or a nonprofit community fund, the Maryland Mortgage Program can add matching funds on top through Partner Match. That lets a Maryland buyer stack assistance from more than one source and stretch the total further than any single program would allow.
How the matching works
The idea is simple: bring approved outside down payment funds, and MMP matches them, up to the program’s cap, as part of your Maryland Mortgage Program loan. The outside program has to be on the approved partner list, and the matched funds follow the program’s rules, so this is one to confirm the current match ratio and cap on before you plan around it. But when it fits, Partner Match is one of the most powerful tools in the state, especially in high-cost counties like Montgomery where a single program may not be enough.
Who benefits most
Partner Match helps buyers who already have access to an employer or local down payment benefit, plenty of Maryland employers, hospital systems, universities, and county governments offer them, and want to add the state program on top. It also helps buyers in expensive markets where stacking is the only way to close the gap. If you think you might qualify for outside help, tell us, we will check whether it is an approved partner and how the match works. See the full program on our Maryland Mortgage Program page.
Common questions
What is Maryland Partner Match?
Partner Match is a Maryland Mortgage Program feature that adds matching funds on top of an approved outside down payment program, from an employer, local government, or community organization. It lets a buyer combine assistance from more than one source, which most state programs do not allow.
Can I combine Maryland down payment programs?
Often yes, through Partner Match. If you qualify for approved outside down payment help, the Maryland Mortgage Program can match it, layering it with the MMP DPA menu. The outside program must be on the approved partner list; confirm the current match rules with a lender.
Who qualifies for Partner Match?
Buyers who have access to down payment help from an approved partner, such as an employer benefit, a county or city program, or a community fund, and want to add the state program on top. It is especially useful in high-cost Maryland counties.
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