Harford County Settlement Expense Loan Program (first-time homebuyers)

At a glance

Amount

Up to $20,000 in the Southern County Task Force Area, up to $10,000 elsewhere in Harford County

Type of help

Deferred loan

Where

Harford County

Run by

Harford County Department of Housing and Community Development

First-time buyer

First-time buyers only

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: 0%
• Monthly payment: None
• When you would repay: Due when you sell the home or stop living in it as your primary residence.

Who qualifies

• First-time buyers only. First-time homebuyers only.
• Income. Household income at or below 80% of Harford County area median income, by household size: $74,800 for one person up to $141,000 for eight (figures on the county page as of 2026-09-22).
• Price. Purchase price up to 95% of area median: $342,000 for an existing one-unit home, $444,000 for new construction (as of 2026-09-22).
• Property types: 1 to 4 unit single-family, Attached, Condo, Townhouse, PUD, Manufactured. Must be your primary residence.
• Buyer contribution of at least 1% of the sales price from your own funds. No cash back at closing.
• First mortgage must be a 30-year fixed-rate, fully amortizing loan with an automated approval (LP Accept or DU Approve/Eligible).
• The home must be inspected by a Harford County housing inspector, and homes in a flood zone are not eligible.
• A monthly cash flow analysis with a housing counseling agency is required.
• Preference goes to homes in the Southern County Task Force Area (Edgewood, Joppa and nearby Route 40 communities), where the maximum is $20,000.

How to apply

1. 1Complete first-time homebuyer counseling. Harford County runs a HUD-approved First-Time Homebuyers Workshop; register through the county's housing page. Do this before you are under contract.
2. 2Call 410-638-3045 to confirm SELP funds are available before you start. The county's page said no funds were available on 2026-09-22.
3. 3Get pre-approved for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and complete the cash flow analysis with your counseling agency.
4. 4Submit the SELP Pre-Qualification Form to the county (the page lists smgasparovic@harfordcountymd.gov) before you write an offer, then get a ratified contract on a Harford County home under the price cap.
5. 5The county inspects the property and reviews the file. Build that time into your settlement date.

Watch out for

• Closed for now. The county's page read 'Currently No SELP Funds Are Available' on 2026-09-22 and asks buyers to check for updates. Funding tends to come back at the start of a fiscal year, so keep the counseling certificate current.
• The $20,000 tier is only inside the Southern County Task Force Area. Bel Air, Abingdon and Havre de Grace buyers are looking at $10,000.
• The county's older fact sheet shows different income figures than the web page. The web page numbers are the current ones; confirm with the county if you are near the line.
• Deferred, not forgiven. You repay the whole amount when you sell or move.

Straight answers

Sources

• Harford County, Settlement Expense Loan Program (terms, income and price limits, funding notice) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• Harford County, First-time Homebuyers (workshop registration) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• Harford County SELP fact sheet (PDF, program rules) (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.