Maryland Mortgage Program 1st Time Advantage 6000

At a glance

Amount

$6,000 for down payment and closing costs, paired with an MMP 30-year fixed first mortgage

Type of help

Deferred loan

Where

Statewide, Maryland

Run by

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Community Development Administration (Maryland Mortgage Program)

First-time buyer

First-time buyers, with exceptions

Income limit

Yes, see below

Price limit

Yes, see below

Minimum credit score

640

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% on the $6,000 second loan
• Monthly payment: None
• When you would repay: Due in full when the first mortgage ends: sale, transfer, refinance, or payoff of the first mortgage

Who qualifies

• First-time buyers, with exceptions. First-time means no ownership interest in a principal residence in the last 3 years. MMP waives this if you buy in a Targeted Area or you are an honorably discharged veteran using the one-time exemption. Either way you cannot own any other real property at closing.
• Income. Total household income must be at or below the MMP limit for the county where you are buying, by household size (1 to 2 people, or 3 or more). Limits effective 2026-06-24. Examples: $140,759 / $161,873 in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties; $199,320 / $232,540 in Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick and Charles. Limits are higher in Targeted Areas ($164,520 / $191,940 in most partially targeted counties). Income counts wages, retirement income, certain benefits and investment gains for everyone in the household.
• Price. Purchase price (maximum acquisition cost) is capped by county, effective 2026-06-24. Examples: $782,118 in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties; $1,306,974 in Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick and Charles; $566,354 on the lower Eastern Shore. Targeted Areas allow more. The MMP first mortgage cannot exceed $832,750.
• Property types: Single-family detached, Townhouse, Condo, Modular home, Manufactured home if the servicer approves. Must be your primary residence.
• You must occupy the home as your principal residence. Non-occupant co-signers are not allowed.
• If your liquid assets are more than 20% of the purchase price, MMP runs an asset test that can affect eligibility.
• Works with FHA, VA, USDA and conventional first mortgages. The 640 minimum score is the MMP standard; the lender and insurer may require more.

How to apply

1. 1Pick a lender from the MMP approved lender directory. Every approved lender can originate any MMP product and serves the whole state.
2. 2Complete an approved homebuyer education course (HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or an approved mortgage insurer course, online is fine). It must be dated within 12 months before settlement, and MMP suggests finishing it before you sign a contract.
3. 3Get pre-approved and confirm you fit the county income and purchase price limits. Your lender reserves the loan and locks the rate only after you have a ratified contract.
4. 4At closing the lender funds the $6,000 second loan alongside your first mortgage. You sign a second note and deed of trust for it.

Watch out for

• The $6,000 is repaid, not forgiven. Plan for it as a payoff item when you eventually sell or refinance.
• The rate on the 6000 product is a little higher than 1st Time Advantage Direct, which comes with no state assistance. Ask your lender to show both side by side.
• Rates and terms are locked at reservation, which needs a ratified contract. Rates change daily.
• If you also have employer, builder or nonprofit assistance, their homebuyer education rules apply too, and MMP will only match through Partner Match if the partner is on the approved list.

Straight answers

Sources

• MMP 1st Time Advantage product page (read Sep 22, 2026)
• MMP fact sheet: 1st Time Advantage 6000 (updated 2022-07-05) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• MMP Directive 2026-04: 2026 Income and Purchase Price Limits (effective 2026-06-24) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• MMP 2026 Income Limits, Maximum Acquisition Costs and CDA Maximum Mortgage Limits (PDF) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• MMP Loan Eligibility (first-time definition, Targeted Areas, asset rule) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• MMP fact sheet: Standard 30-Year Purchase Loans (credit score, property rules) (read Sep 22, 2026)
• MMP Homebuyer Education requirement (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.