Down payment assistanceMaryland
Prince George's County Pathway to Purchase Homebuyer Assistance Program
Up to $50,000
A 0% second loan with no monthly payment. Live in the home for 15 years and it is forgiven, 10% a year starting in year 6. Sell or move out earlier and you repay the part that has not been forgiven yet.
Funding was available the last time we checked.
Relaunched July 1, 2026 with new terms. Apply through a county-certified lender.
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
- 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: Nothing is forgiven in years 1 through 5. Starting in year 6, 10% is forgiven each year. The balance is fully forgiven after 15 years of owner occupancy.
- When you would repay: Sale, transfer, cash-out refinance, or the home no longer being your primary residence within 15 years. The unforgiven share is due.
Who qualifies
- First-time buyers only. No ownership of residential real estate in the 3 years before you apply.
- Income. Gross income of everyone in the household age 18 and over, whether or not they are on the loan, up to 80% of Area Median Income: $93,050 for 1 person, $106,350 for 2, $119,650 for 3, $132,900 for 4, $143,550 for 5, $154,200 for 6, $164,800 for 7, $175,450 for 8 (county FY2027 chart, in effect from 2026-07-01).
- Price. Up to $485,000 for new construction and $448,000 for a resale (HUD limits the county posts; updated yearly).
- Property types: Single-family, Townhouse, Condo. Must be your primary residence.
- You must apply through a Certified Participating Lender on the county's list. The county does not take applications directly.
- First mortgage must be a fixed-rate loan. Front-end debt ratio up to 35% and back-end up to 47%, no exceptions.
- The home must be owner-occupied or vacant when you contract, and it must pass the county's Housing Quality Standards inspection ($139 fee). That is not a substitute for your own home inspection.
- No cash back to you at settlement. Sellers are encouraged but not required to contribute 3% toward closing costs.
- You sign a recorded covenant and certify each year that the home is still your primary residence.
| Area | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7 people | 8 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County | $93,050 | $106,350 | $119,650 | $132,900 | $143,550 | $154,200 | $164,800 | $175,450 |
How to apply
- 1Complete an 8-hour homebuyer education class from a HUD-certified counseling agency and get the certificate before your lender submits your file. Online classes are accepted.
- 2Get pre-approved by a lender on the county's Certified Participating Lenders list. Ask for a Pathway to Purchase certified loan officer.
- 3Go under contract on a home in Prince George's County that fits the price limit, with at least 21 business days left before settlement.
- 4Your lender submits the county application with your contract. Schedule the Housing Quality Standards inspection through the county's inspector.
- 5The county needs 21 business days to process and close the file. The assistance is wired to the title company at settlement.
Watch out for
- Do not write a contract with a quick close. The county requires at least 21 business days from a complete package, not counting federal holidays or your lender's underwriting time.
- The clock on forgiveness does not start moving until year 6. A sale in year 4 means repaying 100%.
- Price caps are firm: $485,000 new, $448,000 resale. A seller credit does not change the cap.
- Funding is appropriated by the county. The program awarded $1.2 million to 33 buyers in FY2026 and relaunched with new guidelines on 2026-07-01. Confirm funds are available when you go under contract.
- It can layer with a Maryland Mortgage Program first mortgage (1st Time Advantage Direct, or 1st Time Advantage 6000 with Partner Match). Your lender must be certified for both.
The largest local program in Prince George's County for buyers under 80% of AMI. Take the class first, then shop, and give the county its 21 business days.
Straight answers
When is the loan forgiven?
After 15 years as your primary residence. Forgiveness runs 10% a year from year 6 through year 15. Nothing is forgiven in the first 5 years.
Do I need a minimum credit score?
The county does not set one. You need to qualify for a fixed-rate first mortgage with a Certified Participating Lender, and your debt ratios must be at or under 35% front and 47% back.
Do I have to put any of my own money in?
The county's guidelines say no minimum cash contribution is required. Your first mortgage program may still have its own down payment rule, and you cannot receive cash back at settlement.
Can I use Pathway to Purchase with the Maryland Mortgage Program?
Yes. The state publishes two pairings: 1st Time Advantage Direct, or 1st Time Advantage 6000 with Partner Match, which adds state assistance on top of the county's. Ask a lender certified for both.
Sources
- Prince George's County DHCD Pathway to Purchase program page (read Sep 22, 2026)
- Pathway to Purchase Program Guidelines (July 2026) (read Sep 22, 2026)
- Prince George's County AMI Limits FY27 (80% and 120% tables) (read Sep 22, 2026)
- DHCD First Time Home Buyers Assistance Programs overview (read Sep 22, 2026)
- Maryland Mortgage Program: Pathway to Purchase in Prince George's County (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.