Maryland Mortgage Program: All the Products (2026)
Maryland's help runs through one program with several products: a DPA menu, a repeat-buyer line, a low-income option, and a way to stack outside help. Here is the full menu and who each fits.
1st Time Advantage and Flex
The core of the program is two parallel lines. 1st Time Advantage is for first-time buyers; Flex is for repeat buyers. Both carry the same down payment menu, 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan, or a flat $6,000, and both are zero-percent deferred seconds. That Flex line is a real Maryland advantage, because many state programs shut out anyone who has owned before. Full detail on our Flex page and the DPA options page.
HomeStart for lower-income buyers
For households with income at or below 50% of the area median income, HomeStart offers the largest single option, 6% down payment assistance. It is aimed at buyers who need the most help, and like the other options it is a zero-percent deferred second. Income eligibility is the key gate, and we check it against your jurisdiction’s current figures up front.
Partner Match: stack outside help
Maryland’s Partner Match is the feature that sets the program apart. If you qualify for approved outside down payment help, from an employer, a county or city, or a community fund, MMP can add matching funds on top. That lets you combine assistance from more than one source, and layered up, the total can reach as high as 15% of the purchase price. See our Partner Match page.
A note on the MCC
Maryland has also offered a mortgage credit certificate (the Maryland HomeCredit), a federal tax credit on part of your mortgage interest. MCC availability changes, so confirm whether it is currently offered when you apply; we check the current status for you.
Verified August 2026 against the MMP Product Matrix and fact sheets (Maryland Mortgage Program). Income and price limits are volatile and by jurisdiction; MCC status changes, confirm at mmp.maryland.gov. This is not a commitment to lend.
Common questions
What products does the Maryland Mortgage Program offer?
1st Time Advantage (first-time buyers) and Flex (repeat buyers) both carry a DPA menu of 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan or a flat $6,000. HomeStart offers 6% for households at/below 50% of AMI. Partner Match stacks approved outside help. All DPA is a 0% deferred second.
What is Maryland HomeStart?
HomeStart is the Maryland Mortgage Program option that provides 6% down payment assistance, the largest single option, for households with income at or below 50% of the area median income. It is a 0% deferred second like the others.
Does Maryland offer a mortgage credit certificate (MCC)?
Maryland has offered the Maryland HomeCredit MCC, a federal tax credit on part of your mortgage interest. Availability changes, so confirm whether it is currently offered when you apply.
See which Maryland product 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.