Down payment assistanceMaryland
Salisbury and Wicomico County Closing Cost Grants (Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services)
Up to $20,000 toward down payment and closing costs, sized to need and the property's location
SNHS calls it a grant and secures it with a five-year forgivable lien. No interest, no monthly payment. Live in the home as your primary residence for five years and the lien is released. Sell or move out earlier and you repay under the lien terms.
We have not confirmed current funding. Check with the administrator before you rely on it.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Program terms change; confirm with the administrator before you rely on them.
At a glance
- Amount
- Up to $20,000 toward down payment and closing costs, sized to need and the property's location
- Type of help
- Forgivable loan
- Where
- City of Salisbury, Wicomico County
- Run by
- Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services, with City of Salisbury and Wicomico County CDBG funds
- First-time buyer
- First-time buyers only
- Income limit
- Yes, see below
- Price limit
- Yes, see below
- Homebuyer education
- Required
- Your own funds
- At least $1,000
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%
- Monthly payment: None
- Forgiveness: A five-year forgivable lien is recorded against the property and released after five years of owner occupancy.
- When you would repay: Sell or stop living in the home as your primary residence before the five years are up and the lien is enforced.
Who qualifies
- First-time buyers only. You must be a Maryland first-time homebuyer and may not own any other property.
- Income. Total household income under 80% of area median income, by household size. SNHS published 2025 limits of $52,500 for one person up to $98,950 for eight; the same table applies to City of Salisbury and Wicomico County addresses (checked 2026-09-22).
- Price. No purchase price cap published. The grant is sized by your need and your other available assets.
- The home must be in the City of Salisbury or elsewhere in Wicomico County and be owner-occupied. The available amount depends on the property address and which funding pool has money.
- You must show a need for the assistance; SNHS looks at your other available assets when it sizes the grant.
- A home inspection and a lead paint assessment are required.
- A $60 recording fee is due at settlement for the lien.
| Area | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7 people | 8 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wicomico County | $52,500 | $60,000 | $67,500 | $74,950 | $80,950 | $86,950 | $92,950 | $98,950 |
How to apply
- 1Call SNHS (410-543-4626) to confirm you qualify and that funds are available for the area you are shopping in. Do this before you write an offer.
- 2Enroll in and complete SNHS's Homebuyer Education class. It must be finished before settlement, and finishing early keeps your timeline clean.
- 3Get pre-approved for a mortgage and set aside at least $1,000 of your own money for the purchase.
- 4Get a ratified sales contract. SNHS reserves funds only once it has the contract.
- 5Settlement must occur within 60 days of your application, so apply as soon as the contract is ratified and order the inspection and lead assessment right away.
Watch out for
- The 60-day clock from application to settlement is tight. Coordinate the SNHS application, the lender's timeline and the inspections in the first week under contract.
- The amount is not automatic. 'Up to $20,000' depends on your need, your assets and the funding pool for that address. City of Salisbury and county addresses draw from different CDBG allocations.
- The income table SNHS posted is dated 2025. Ask for the current year's figures if you are near the line.
- SNHS did not publish remaining funds on 2026-09-22. CDBG money is allocated each program year and can run out.
For a first-time buyer on the Lower Shore under the income cap, this is the first call. Twenty thousand in Salisbury covers most of a down payment.
Straight answers
Is this a grant or a loan?
SNHS calls it a grant and records a five-year forgivable lien against the home. Live there as your primary residence for five years and the lien is released. Sell or move earlier and you repay under the lien terms.
Does it cover homes outside Salisbury city limits?
Yes. SNHS administers CDBG funds for both the City of Salisbury and Wicomico County. The amount available depends on the address and which pool has funds.
When do I have to take the class?
Before settlement. SNHS runs its own Homebuyer Education class, and you need the certificate on file before you close.
Sources
- Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services, Closing Cost Grants (terms, 2025 income limits) (read Sep 22, 2026)
- City of Salisbury, CDBG Quick Facts (homeownership assistance as an eligible CDBG activity) (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.