Bring the property address and financing plan to your Maryland program research
The Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) offers home-loan resources through approved lenders, with different options for first-time and repeat buyers. Start with the city directories above, then use the state's resources to check lender participation and the requirements for a particular mortgage and assistance package.
Use MMP's directory to confirm program participation
MMP's approved-lender directory supports searches by county, language and loan type. Its initial results show a lender's primary office; selecting the lender reveals branch information. The state says approved lenders serve borrowers statewide, so a primary-office address does not limit the counties where they can originate an MMP loan.
Confirm with the loan officer that the organization handles the particular MMP product you are considering and ask who coordinates any additional assistance. Mortgage Firm is an independent directory; inclusion here does not establish MMP approval or participation in a local program.
Check the exact jurisdiction and the new-construction designation
MMP's household-income limits vary by location and household size, and its household-income review is different from the lender's qualifying-income calculation. Tell the lender who will live in the home as well as who will be on the mortgage, and request the applicable income and purchase-price limits.
Targeted Areas can affect income limits and repeat-buyer options. The state lists all of Baltimore City as targeted, while only parts of Baltimore County, Frederick County and several other counties qualify. A Baltimore mailing address is not enough to identify the applicable jurisdiction or designation. Ask the lender to check the actual property in MMP's linked mapping tool.
For new construction, including a home built within the last 12 months, MMP requires a Priority Funding Area location. This is a separate designation from a Targeted Area. Check it before relying on MMP financing for a newly built home; the eligibility page gives a Department of Planning contact route if the property is too new to appear in the map.
Separate the first mortgage, assistance loan and partner contribution
The MMP Flex line serves eligible first-time and repeat buyers. Flex Direct does not include MMP down payment assistance, although external assistance may be used. Some other Flex products include a deferred second loan. For Flex 6000, the state describes no scheduled assistance payments during the first mortgage, with the second lien becoming payable when that mortgage ends, including through sale or refinance. Ask for the terms of the exact product instead of treating deferred assistance as forgiven debt.
Partner Match is a separate state loan that can accompany eligible assistance from an approved employer, builder or community partner when using 1st Time Advantage 6000 or Flex 6000. The match is deferred and becomes payable when the first mortgage is paid off. Confirm both the partner's requirements and the state's match requirements with the lender.
MMP's assistance overview also links to programs organized by county. Local grants and loans have their own rules, so verify the purchase address, application sequence and current funding with that administrator. A state-program approval does not establish approval for a city or county award.
Questions to take with you
- Which assistance amounts are loans, and what events make each balance due?
- Does the proposed mortgage allow the outside assistance I am considering?
- Who confirms the partner contribution and any local funding before closing?
Choose an accepted course before the purchase timeline gets tight
MMP's education page requires purchase borrowers to complete homebuyer education before approval and encourages doing so before signing a contract. The course must be completed and the certificate issued within the 12 months before settlement. Check the certificate date with the lender if a purchase is delayed.
The page links to online courses, including Spanish-language options, and to HUD-approved and National Industry Standards counseling-agency directories. Ask a counselor for help preparing a purchase plan or identifying assistance to research. Some courses charge registration fees.
Course acceptance also depends on the insurer and master servicer, and another source of assistance can impose its own education requirements. Before enrolling, give the lender and any local assistance provider the course name and ask whether additional counseling is needed. An accepted MMP course alone may not complete every requirement in a combined financing package.
Published by Mortgage Firm, an independent directory. Program administrators and lenders determine current availability and eligibility. Our editorial approach