Maryland

Every Maryland first-time home buyer program, in one table.

Scan the benefit. Click a program to see who qualifies, what to watch out for, and how to apply.

Straight from Maryland DHCD Last checked July 11, 2026 4 programs active

Program	What you get
1st Time Advantage Direct Run by the State of Maryland	The lowest rate Rate discount Maryland’s best interest rate — but no down payment help attached.	See the details →
1st Time Advantage 6000 Run by the State of Maryland	$6,000 Deferred loan — 0% For your down payment. No interest, no payments until you sell or refinance.	See the details →
1st Time Advantage 3%, 4% or 5% Run by the State of Maryland	3% – 5% of your loan Deferred loan — 0% Roughly $10,500 – $17,500 on a $350,000 mortgage. Same deal: no interest, no payments.	See the details →
HomeStart Run by the State of Maryland	6% of your loan Deferred loan — 0% / 30 yr The most generous help Maryland gives — about $21,000 on a $350,000 mortgage. Income capped at 50% of your area’s median.	See the details →

First, let’s see if you qualify.

These rules apply to all four programs above. They’re more generous than most people assume.

“First-time” means

You haven’t owned a home in 3+ years. Owned one before that? You count again.

You have to live there

Primary residence only. No rentals, no flips, no investors.

A class is required

You’ll take an approved homebuyer education course. It’s genuinely useful.

Income limits apply

They change by county and household size — and they’re higher than you’d guess. See Maryland’s limits →

Veterans get a break

Using your exemption for the first time? You don’t have to be a first-time buyer.

Watch your savings

Cash on hand above 20% of the purchase price can affect whether you qualify.

Credit score?

Maryland doesn’t publish one — your lender decides. We’ve asked DHCD, and we’ll post their answer.

Who to call

Maryland DHCD: 301-429-7852. It’s their program — talk to them directly.

We’ll tell you when Maryland’s programs change.

Funding runs out. Income limits get updated. New programs show up. We check Maryland every month so you don’t have to.

The honest fine print

Everything on this page came from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s own pages at mmp.maryland.gov, read by a human on July 11, 2026. Every program links back to its source so you can check us. We’re not a government agency, we’re not a lender, and we’re not affiliated with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Programs change and funding runs out. If one ever expires or pauses, we’ll say so right here rather than quietly deleting it.

Dollar figures are illustrations based on a $350,000 mortgage — examples, not offers. Your numbers will differ.

This is information, not advice. Talk to a state-approved lender before making decisions about a mortgage.

Found something out of date? Tell us — genuinely. We’d rather hear it from you than leave it wrong.