As the national housing market faced rising mortgage costs and sustained affordability pressures, Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore (NHS Baltimore) deepened its commitment to expanding access to homeownership across the city.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the housing market entering late 2024 and continuing into 2025 experienced increased borrowing costs following Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. For many families, these conditions made saving for a home and securing affordable financing significantly more difficult.
In response to these challenges, NHS Baltimore strengthened its support for homebuyers by providing more financing and down payment assistance than in previous years to help bridge growing affordability gaps.
Delivering Deeper Support for Baltimore Homebuyers
While the total number of homebuyers served by NHS declined slightly from 266 in FY24 to 251 in FY25, the level of support provided to each buyer increased substantially.
This shift reflects a broader trend: as housing costs rose and financing became more expensive, families relied more heavily on NHS resources to achieve sustainable homeownership.
Over the past three fiscal years, NHS financing support has steadily increased:
|
Program Support |
FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
| First Mortgages | 25 | 38 | 60 |
| Down Payment Assistance (DPAs) | 108 | 150 | 187 |
| Average DPA Amount | $10.6k | $11.8k | $12.1k |
These numbers demonstrate that NHS expanded both the availability of financing and the amount of assistance provided per buyer, helping more families overcome the financial barriers to purchasing a home.
Advancing Equitable Homeownership
NHS Baltimore remains committed to addressing historic barriers to homeownership that have disproportionately affected communities of color.
In FY25:
75.7% of households who became homeowners through NHS services were BIPOC families.
By prioritizing access to responsible lending, financial counseling, and down payment assistance, NHS continues to support families who have historically faced systemic barriers to housing opportunity.
Filling the Affordability Gap
As the housing market became more difficult to navigate, NHS stepped in to fill a greater share of the financing gap for Baltimore homebuyers.
The sharp increase in both first mortgages and down payment assistance shows that NHS resources became even more essential for families working toward homeownership during a challenging economic environment.
By expanding financing support and increasing assistance amounts, NHS helped ensure that rising costs did not completely shut the door to homeownership for Baltimore residents.
Strengthening Communities Through Homeownership
For more than 50 years, NHS Baltimore has worked alongside residents, lenders, and community partners to expand sustainable homeownership across the city.
Through HUD-certified homebuyer education, one-on-one counseling, flexible lending products, and down payment assistance, NHS continues to help Baltimore families build stability and invest in their communities.
Even in a challenging housing market, NHS remains committed to opening pathways to homeownership and ensuring that Baltimore residents have the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed.
Support the Work Behind Homeownership
The impact described in this report is made possible through the support of community partners and individual donors. Your contribution helps sustain the education, counseling, and neighborhood reinvestment efforts that make homeownership possible for Baltimore families.
Ready to Take the First Step Toward Homeownership?
NHS Baltimore offers homebuyer education, counseling, mortgage products, and down payment assistance programs designed to help Baltimore City residents prepare for homeownership.
About NHS Baltimore
Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore (NHS Baltimore) is a community-based nonprofit with more than 50 years of experience supporting sustainable homeownership and housing stability for Baltimore City residents. Through HUD-certified homebuyer education, one-on-one counseling, locally tailored lending, and neighborhood reinvestment, NHS Baltimore provides trusted guidance rooted in real-world housing practice.