While the Maryland Mortgage Program can be used by most Marylanders to purchase a home anywhere in Maryland, there are a few property location factors that may restrict its use, and in some cases, your household income may affect whether or not these restrictions apply.
We recommend that you talk to one of our state-approved mortgage lenders to learn how this may impact your eligibility for the Maryland Mortgage Program for any homes you may already be considering, or to help you in your search for a home.
Targeted Areas
Targeted Areas are parts of Maryland in which it is a little easier to be eligible for the Maryland Mortgage Program. Household Income limits are slightly higher if you’re purchasing a property in a Targeted Area, and you don’t need to be a First-Time Homebuyer.
- If you’re purchasing in Baltimore City, or in Allegany, Caroline, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, or Somerset County, then all properties are within a Targeted Area.
- If you’re purchasing in Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Howard, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Talbot, or Worcester County, there are no properties within a Targeted Area.
- For all other counties in Maryland, there are certain designated areas that are Targeted Areas, and you can determine a property’s status by using the MMP Mapper.
Priority Funding Areas
Maryland’s Priority Funding Areas are existing communities and places where local governments use state investments to support future growth. For the Maryland Mortgage Program, new homes (those built within the last 12 months) are only eligible if they are located in a Priority Funding Area.
The following areas qualify as Priority Funding Areas:
- every municipality, as they existed in 1997
- areas inside the Washington Beltway and the Baltimore Beltway
- areas already designated as enterprise zones, neighborhood revitalization areas, heritage areas and existing industrial land
If you’re thinking about building a new construction home or purchasing a new construction property from a developer, and the above criteria don’t provide clarity on whether the location of the property falls within a Priority Funding Area, consult the MMP Mapper to look up the address.
