Down payment assistanceMaryland
Buy Back the Block ($15,000 or $20,000 grant for Baltimore renters)
$15,000 purchase grant, or $20,000 when you buy with a purchase and renovation mortgage
A grant for people who already live in an eligible Baltimore neighborhood and want to buy there. Live Baltimore says the grants do not have to be repaid. It is $15,000 for a standard purchase, or $20,000 when you use a fixed-rate purchase and renovation mortgage.
We have not confirmed current funding. Check with the administrator before you rely on it.
Last verified Nov 5, 2026. Program terms change; confirm with the administrator before you rely on them.
At a glance
- Amount
- $15,000 purchase grant, or $20,000 when you buy with a purchase and renovation mortgage
- Type of help
- Grant
- Where
- Baltimore City
- Run by
- Live Baltimore, in partnership with the City of Baltimore
- First-time buyer
- Repeat buyers welcome
- Income limit
- Yes, see below
- Price limit
- Yes, see below
- Homebuyer education
- Required
- Your own funds
- At least $1,000
How the grant works
Money you do not pay back, as long as you meet the program's stay-in-the-home terms.
- Monthly payment: None
Who qualifies
- Repeat buyers welcome. You cannot own any real estate right now. Live Baltimore does not use a three-year first-time buyer lookback, so a past owner who owns nothing today can still apply.
- Income. Gross household income up to $144,720 or 120% of the Area Median Income, whichever is greater (checked 2026-11-05).
- Price. No separate price cap. Your mortgage cannot exceed the FHA limit for a single-family home, listed as $731,400 (checked 2026-11-05).
- You must live at a grant-eligible address now and have lived there at least 12 months in a row. Renters count.
- The home you buy must also be inside the grant-eligible area: Baltimore City Housing Market Typology categories D through J. Live Baltimore's quiz checks both addresses.
- Fixed-rate mortgage through one of the program's approved lenders. Co-signers, cash sales and owner financing are not allowed.
- You must live in the home as your primary residence.
How to apply
- 1Before you make an offer, complete a homeownership workshop and a counseling session with a City-approved agency. The certificate is good for 12 months.
- 2Take the eligibility quiz on Live Baltimore's Buy Back the Block page and have your current address verified.
- 3Get pre-approved for a fixed-rate mortgage with a program-approved lender, and set aside at least $1,000 of your own money.
- 4Get your grant application approved before closing. Settlement has to happen within 90 days of approval, and the grant is never paid after the fact.
Watch out for
- Funds are limited and awarded first come, first served. Live Baltimore did not post a remaining-funds figure as of 2026-11-05.
- The 12-month residency rule is about where you live now, not the home you buy. Moving into the area right before you apply does not count.
- Only one grant application is allowed per property address.
- New construction, short sales and foreclosures can work, but only if settlement lands inside the 90-day window.
Straight answers
Do I have to buy the home I rent now?
No. You have to live in an eligible neighborhood now, for at least 12 months, and buy a home that is also in the eligible area. It does not have to be the house you rent.
Can I use Buy Back the Block with other Baltimore programs?
Live Baltimore says the grant can be combined with other programs where those programs allow it. Many city buyers look at it alongside the First-Time Homebuyers Incentive. Your housing counselor confirms the stack for your purchase.
What is the difference between the $15,000 and $20,000 grants?
The $15,000 grant is for a standard purchase. The $20,000 grant is for buyers who use a fixed-rate purchase and renovation mortgage, so the loan covers the price and the repairs together.
Sources
- Live Baltimore, Buy Back the Block (read Nov 5, 2026)
Program details are summarized from public sources and change without notice. Funding badges reflect the last time we checked, not a guarantee of availability. This is buyer education from a real estate agent, not a loan pre-approval or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is decided by each program administrator and your lender. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Programs are the easy part. Timing is the hard part.
Most buyers lose assistance on a deadline, not on eligibility. Sean helps you map out the counseling, the lender conversation, and the contract dates so nothing slips.