Down payment assistanceMaryland
Prince George's County Critical Workforce Housing Assistance Program (CWHAP)
Up to $50,000 or 25% of the purchase price, whichever is less
A 0% second loan with no monthly payment for county teachers, nurses, and public safety workers. It is forgiven 10% a year and disappears after 10 years in the home. Leave earlier and you repay what has not yet been forgiven.
Funding was available the last time we checked.
Launched July 1, 2026.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Program terms change; confirm with the administrator before you rely on them.
At a glance
- Amount
- Up to $50,000 or 25% of the purchase price, whichever is less
- Type of help
- Forgivable loan
- Where
- Prince George's County
- Run by
- Prince George's County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
- First-time buyer
- First-time buyers only
- Income limit
- Yes, see below
- Price limit
- Yes, see below
- Homebuyer education
- Required
How the forgivable loan works
A second loan with no payment that is forgiven over time or after a set number of years in the home.
- Interest: 0% (5.75% if you default)
- Monthly payment: None
- Forgiveness: 10% forgiven each year. Fully forgiven after 10 years of owner occupancy.
- When you would repay: Sale, transfer, or the home no longer being your primary residence within 10 years. The unforgiven share is due.
Who qualifies
- First-time buyers only. The county's guidelines require first-time homebuyer status but do not spell out a lookback period. Confirm your status with a certified lender.
- Income. Gross income of everyone in the household age 18 and over up to 120% of Area Median Income: $139,500 for 1 person, $159,450 for 2, $179,400 for 3, $199,300 for 4, $215,250 for 5, $231,200 for 6, $247,150 for 7, $263,100 for 8 (county chart effective 2026-06-01).
- Price. None. The county sets no purchase price limit for this program.
- Only for: teachers and educators, healthcare workers, first responders.
- Participating employers: Prince George's County Public Schools, Prince George's County Government, Prince George's County hospitals and medical offices.
- Property types: Single-family, Townhouse, Condo. Must be your primary residence.
- Eligible jobs: a full-time teacher with Prince George's County Public Schools, or a full-time nurse at a hospital or medical office in Prince George's County.
- Also eligible: a full-time firefighter, EMT, correctional officer, police officer, public safety dispatcher, or deputy sheriff employed by a Prince George's County Government public safety agency.
- Apply only through a Certified Participating Lender. Debt ratios up to 35% front and 47% back, no exceptions.
- The home can be anywhere in Prince George's County: resale, new construction, short sale, or foreclosure.
- You must get your own home inspection from a licensed inspector and show the invoice. No cash back to you at settlement.
- The home must be your primary residence for the full 10-year term.
| Area | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7 people | 8 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County | $139,500 | $159,450 | $179,400 | $199,300 | $215,250 | $231,200 | $247,150 | $263,100 |
How to apply
- 1Complete an 8-hour homebuyer education class from a HUD-certified counseling agency before you write a contract and keep the certificate.
- 2Gather proof of full-time employment in an eligible job. Your lender will need it in the package.
- 3Get pre-approved by a lender on the county's Certified Participating Lenders list.
- 4Go under contract with at least 21 business days left before settlement, then have your lender submit the CWHAP package.
- 5The county processes and closes the file in 21 business days, not counting federal holidays, and funds the title company at settlement.
Watch out for
- The job test is strict. A teacher at a private school, a nurse working outside the county, or a police officer with a municipal department does not qualify. Only the employers listed count.
- Forgiveness runs 10% a year for 10 years. Sell in year 4 and 60% is still due.
- Give the county 21 business days from a complete file. Short-fuse contracts get turned away.
- Lender fees are capped at 3 points. The county publishes an ineligible fees list your lender must follow.
- The program launched 2026-07-01 from the county's Housing Investment Trust Fund. Confirm funds are available before you write an offer.
If you teach in PGCPS or work county public safety, this is the one to ask about first. No price cap and up to $50,000 is a real difference on a first home.
Straight answers
Which jobs qualify?
Full-time PGCPS teachers, full-time nurses at Prince George's County hospitals or medical offices, and full-time firefighters, EMTs, correctional officers, police officers, public safety dispatchers, and deputy sheriffs employed by a Prince George's County Government public safety agency.
Is there a purchase price limit?
No. The county states there is no price limit for CWHAP. The assistance is still capped at $50,000 or 25% of the price, whichever is less.
How long do I have to stay?
Ten years as your primary residence for full forgiveness. The loan forgives 10% a year, so the balance drops each year you stay.
Sources
- Prince George's County DHCD Critical Workforce Housing Assistance Program page (read Sep 22, 2026)
- Critical Workforce Housing Assistance Program Guidelines (July 2026) (read Sep 22, 2026)
- Prince George's County AMI Limits FY27 (80% and 120% tables) (read Sep 22, 2026)
- CWHAP Documents page (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.
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.