Down Payment Assistance Programs

Get Help Covering Your Down Payment and closing costs. You can be eligible for up to $50,000 in assistance!

Buying a home is more achievable when you combine the right mortgage with available down payment and closing cost assistance. NHS of Baltimore helps homebuyers understand, access, and coordinate multiple local, state, and federal programs that can significantly reduce upfront costs.

Because eligibility, funding availability, and program requirements vary, our housing counselors work with you one-on-one to identify the programs that best match your income, location, and homeownership goals.

DPA Program Overview

Up to $50,000 available for qualified buyers
Designed for first-time in Baltimore City
Can be combined with other grants or incentives
Reduces your upfront costs and monthly mortgage burden

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, you must:

Complete a HUD-approved NHS Homebuyer Workshop
Complete one-on-one homebuyer counseling
Have a signed purchase contract and a pre-approval letter from a lender

Explore Down Payment Assistance Options

Reinvest Baltimore Down Payment Assistance Program

The Reinvest Baltimore Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $20,000 to eligible buyers purchasing qualified homes in Baltimore City neighborhoods. Funds may be used toward down payment or closing costs, and buyers must complete a homebuyer workshop and one-on-one counseling before making an offer.

Learn more about Reinvest Baltimore Down Payment Assistance Program

NHS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Project Reinvest DPA

Up to $15,000 for NHS first mortgage customers
$5,000 for lender partner customers
Deferred loan, 0% interest, repayable upon sale or refinance
Eligible purchases must be in Baltimore City

BRNI Down Payment Assistance

$10,000 deferred loan (0% interest)
Must purchase in NHS targeted areas
Repayable upon sale or refinance

LOAN PROGRAMS

Maryland Mortgage Loan Program (MMP) www.mmp.maryland.gov
MMP HomeAbility Disability Program mmp.maryland.gov/Lenders/Documents/FactSheets/HomeAbility.pdf
MMP SmartBuy Program mmp.maryland.gov/Lenders/Documents/FactSheets/MMP_FactSheet_SmartBuy3.pdf
Healthy Neighborhoods Purchase & Rehab Loan healthyneighborhoods.org
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development 203k Loan hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/203k/203k–df

DOWN PAYMENT & CLOSING COSTS PROGRAMS 1

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development 2

mmp.maryland.gov/Lenders/Pages/Fact-Sheets.aspx

Smart Buy 3.0 (up to $20,000 to pay off student debt)
1st Time Advantage Direct (offers competitive rate, NO DPA)
1st Time Advantage Loan $6,000, (3%, 4% or 5% of the 1st mortgage)
Flex 6000 or Flex 3% ($6,000 or 3% of the 1st mortgage)
Home Start (For borrowers w/income @ or below 50% AMI – 6% of 1st mortgage)
HomeAbility (up to $45,000 for disabled borrowers)
Partner Match – Community Partners Incentive Program (MMP DHCD matches up to $2500)
Partner Match – House Keys for Employees (MMP DHCD matches up to $2500)
Partner Match – Smart Keys for Employees ($1,000)

Baltimore City

dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/hho/homeownership-incentives OR www.livebaltimore.com

Vacants to Value Booster – FHA 203k Rehab ($10,000)
Healthy Neighborhoods Grant 3 – Incentive to offset renovations (Up to $10,000)
Baltimore City Employee Homeownership Program ($5,000)
First Time Homebuyer Incentive Program – CDBG ($10,000)
FTHIP Tenant Conversion Bonus ($5,000)
FTHIP Disability Bonus ($5,000)
Buying Into Baltimore – City wide Trolley Tour ($5,000)
Live Near Your Work ($2,000+)
NHS Down Payment Assistance Program i.e. Project Reinvest Grant (Amount Varies)
Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative – BRNI ($10,000)
Buy Back the Block ($10,000 or $20,000)

Baltimore County

baltimorecountymd.gov & dundalkusa.org

SELP – NHS not approved to process grant ($10,000)
Dundalk Renaissance Incentive ($10,000)
LifeBridge Health Live Near Your Work – Northwest & Sinai Hospitals ($5,000)

Federal

corp.fhlbatl.com/services/affordable-housing-programs/homebuyers-and-homeowners/ 4

FHLBank Atlanta First Responder Product (Up to $15,000)
FHLBank Atlanta First-Time Homebuyer Product (Up to $12,500)

teachernextdoor.us/Officer-Next-Door

Good Neighbor Next Door 5 (50% of HUD home)
Officer, teacher, non-instructional school personnel, nurses/healthcare providers, police/law enforcement, firefighters/EMTs, government. employees, active-duty military/veterans, public service professionals, and professors 6 (Amount varies)

ALTERNATIVE FINANCING

Maryland Mortgage 640 Program

State of Maryland required credit score to qualify for incentive programs is 660 or 640 with restrictions. Restrictions include 2 months of mortgage payments in savings and max debt to income ratio is 42%.

State of MD HomeAbility Disability Loan Program

This is a Conventional Loan product and provides up to 95% LTV in a first lien and up to 25% (with a maximum of $45,000) in a second lien to assist with down payment and closing costs. The combined LTV may not exceed 105%. The interest rate for the first lien is posted on the Interest Rates page ; the second lien has a rate of 0% and payment is deferred for the life of the first lien, but becomes payable upon sale, refinance, or transfer of the home. Max household income depends on the county and city where you would like to purchase. Customer must choose either gold or silver MMP lenders.

Important Program Requirements & Lender Guidelines

1 Loan/Grant program eligibility is based on total household income, and in some cases, on credit score—funds are subject to availability

2 Must use an MMP loan product and choose a state of MD approved lender to access MMP grants/loans

3 Other healthy neighborhood grants, ranging in dollar amounts, are offered by other Healthy Neighborhoods non-profits

4 Must choose an FHLBank Atlanta approved lender to access FHLBank Atlanta grants

5 You do not have to choose a Teacher Next Door Real Estate agent or one of their two approved lenders because the Good Neighbor Program is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development

6 Must choose a Teacher Next Door Real Estate agent and one of their two approved lenders

DISCLAIMER

We will always make every attempt in our counseling to give you the most current and qualified information on Community Second Grants and loans. The information we provide is a guide to allow you to choose the lender and Real Estate agent that can offer you the greatest opportunity for homeownership success. With this guide you and your Lender Agent team will make the most effective choices for your success.