Bowie First Mortgage Assistance Program

At a glance

Amount

$2,000 city grant, matched by the State for $4,000 total toward closing costs

Type of help

Grant

Where

City of Bowie, Prince George's County

Run by

City of Bowie, Office of Grant Development and Administration

First-time buyer

First-time buyers only

Income 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.

• Interest: None, it is a grant
• Monthly payment: None
• Forgiveness: The grant becomes permanent after five years in the home
• When you would repay: Sell the home during the five-year term and the grant is repaid in full out of your sale proceeds

Who qualifies

• First-time buyers only. First-time homebuyers only, as defined by the Maryland Mortgage Program.
• Income. The State match runs through the Maryland Mortgage Program, so MMP's Prince George's County household income limits apply. The City does not publish a separate cap.
• Only for: teachers and educators, government employees, first responders.
• Property types: Single-family, Townhouse, Condo. Must be your primary residence.
• Only for teachers, persons with disabilities, City of Bowie government employees, and police officers.
• The home must be inside the corporate city limits of Bowie. Check the address on the City's boundary map; a Bowie mailing address is not enough.
• You must live in the home as your primary residence for the full five-year grant term. No subleases.
• Complete a HUD-certified homebuyer education and counseling program within one year of applying.
• The first mortgage must come from a Maryland Mortgage Program approved lender.

Income limits below are the shared table published for MMP 1st Time Advantage 6000, which this program uses too.

How to apply

1. 1Meet with a HUD-approved housing counselor early. The City strongly recommends it before you apply, and the course is required within a year of applying.
2. 2Pre-qualify with the City by submitting the Bowie First application to the Office of Grant Development and Administration. Mail or hand-deliver it; faxes are not accepted.
3. 3Get your first mortgage through a Maryland Mortgage Program approved lender, which also unlocks the State's matching grant.
4. 4Write your contract with at least 60 days to settlement, a home inspection addendum with a certified inspector, an appraisal contingency, and the City's seller relocation disclosure letter.

Watch out for

• Allow at least 60 days from contract to settlement. City and State approvals take time.
• A termite inspection is required, and the City may conduct its own home inspection on top of yours.
• You need at least $1,000 of your own money in the deal, which can be your earnest money, appraisal, and inspection fees.
• The City can reject the application if it judges the first mortgage terms predatory, so use a standard MMP loan.

Straight answers

Sources

• City of Bowie: Homebuyer Assistance Program (Bowie First) (read Sep 22, 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.