Charles County Settlement Expense Loan Program (SELP and SELP+)

At a glance

Amount

Up to $6,000 for settlement costs, plus a $14,000 SELP+ forgivable add-on while ARPA funds last

Type of help

Deferred loan

Where

Charles County

Run by

Charles County Department of Community Services, Housing Authority

First-time buyer

First-time buyers, with exceptions

Income limit

Yes, see below

Price limit

Yes, see below

Homebuyer education

Required

How the deferred loan works

A second loan with no interest and no payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage.

• Interest: 5% in the first year only, then 0%
• Monthly payment: None
• When you would repay: Due when you sell, transfer, or refinance the home, default on your first mortgage, or stop living there as your principal residence.

Who qualifies

• First-time buyers, with exceptions. No home ownership in the three years before closing. The county allows exceptions for divorce, death of a spouse, or living in substandard housing.
• Income. Household income limits from the county's 2026 SELP guidelines (revised May 1, 2026, effective July 1, 2026): $116,300 for one person up to $219,300 for eight. SELP+ is capped at 100% of area median income.
• Price. No dollar cap. The purchase price cannot exceed the appraised value.
• Property types: Existing single-family detached, Semi-detached, Townhouse, Condo. Must be your primary residence.
• You must have lived in Charles County for the last year (verified by tax returns) or worked in the county continuously for the last year at 32 or more hours a week. SELP+ requires three years of living or working full-time in the county.
• Existing homes only. New construction is excluded from SELP and SELP+.
• The home must be vacant, seller-occupied, or already occupied by you, and you must move in as your principal residence within 60 days of closing.
• You must be in good standing with the county, owe no back taxes, and have never defaulted on a prior county SELP loan.
• Minimum buyer cash contribution is 5% of your annual household income toward down payment and closing costs.
• SELP+ requires SELP approval first and a SELP-approved lender.

How to apply

1. 1Complete housing counseling with a HUD-approved counselor before you take out your mortgage. The county requires the counseling; earlier is better so the certificate is ready when you go under contract.
2. 2Get pre-approved with a lender who has worked with the county's SELP program. Ask the Housing Authority (301-934-9305) for lenders who know the file.
3. 3Get a ratified contract on an existing home in Charles County priced at or below its appraised value.
4. 4Your lender assembles and submits the complete SELP file to the county not less than 15 business days before closing. The county reviews and approves within 15 business days.
5. 5If you are also applying for SELP+, your lender adds that application once SELP is approved. The county's SELP+ page still showed application details as coming soon on 2026-09-22.

Watch out for

• The one-year residency or work requirement trips up people relocating into the county. Check it before you fall in love with a house.
• The 5% of household income contribution is a real number. On a $100,000 household that is $5,000 of your own money.
• SELP+ is temporary ARPA money and ends when the funds are gone. Do not write an offer that depends on it without confirming availability with the Housing Authority.
• Fifteen business days before closing is the minimum. Have your lender submit early and write the settlement date with room.
• The county's housing pages block automated tools; if a link does not open, call 301-934-9305 for the current guidelines.

Straight answers

Sources

• Charles County Housing Authority (SELP overview and 2026 guidelines link) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• Charles County 2026 SELP Program Guidelines and Procedures (revised May 1, 2026, effective July 1, 2026) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• Charles County ARPA housing projects (SELP+ terms) (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.