Yes — you can buy a house in Maryland with little money down. Through down payment assistance and low-down-payment loan programs, many buyers move forward with far less cash than the "20% down" myth suggests, and some may put little to nothing of their own money toward the down payment. I'm Ronnie Gilmer, a REALTOR® with Samson Properties serving Maryland and Washington, DC, and below I'll walk you through how little you really need, who may qualify, and the first step to take.
How little money do you really need to buy in Maryland?
Less than most people think. Many loan products allow as little as 3% or 3.5% down, and Maryland's down payment assistance programs can layer on top to cover much of that, so your true out-of-pocket cash may be small. The exact amount depends on the loan, the program, and your situation, but the 20%-down belief keeps far too many qualified buyers renting longer than they need to.
What down payment assistance is available in Maryland?
Maryland offers several assistance options, most of them through the Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP), which is run by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) / CDA. A few worth knowing:
- MMP Flex 6000 — a flat $6,000 zero-interest deferred second lien for your down payment and closing costs. You repay it only when you sell, refinance, or transfer the home, and it's open to first-time and repeat buyers. Learn more about this program on my MMP Flex 6000 page.
- MMP Flex 3% — down payment assistance equal to 3% of your first mortgage (a percentage, not a flat dollar amount), structured as a zero-interest deferred loan.
- First Home 100 / First Home 100+ — a private lender product from First Home Mortgage (NMLS #71603), not the Maryland Mortgage Program or a state/government program. First Home 100 provides 3.5% in down payment assistance and First Home 100+ provides 5% — offered as a repayable fixed-rate second loan (not a grant and not forgivable). It's open to first-time and repeat buyers, has no income limits, and is available across Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Your loan officer can confirm current availability and details.
- MMP 1st Time Advantage — the lowest 30-year fixed MMP rate, generally for first-time buyers (with a few exceptions).
You can see all of these side by side on my Maryland down payment assistance programs hub.
Who may qualify for low-down-payment programs?
Eligibility varies by program, but for the Maryland Mortgage Program you generally must use an approved MMP lender, complete homebuyer education (typically required for all buyers before approval — it can be a HUD-, Fannie Mae-, or Freddie Mac-approved course, online or in person), and fall within income and home-purchase-price limits that vary by county and household — so those figures are something to confirm directly. Credit minimums also apply. A first-time homebuyer is generally someone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years.
- Income limits and home-purchase-price limits: these vary by county and household, and the latest published table is effective May 2025 — confirm current figures with your approved MMP/CDA lender.
- Minimum credit score: around 640 for most MMP loans (current as of 2026); some products require higher, such as SmartBuy at around 720.
If those boxes are checkable for you, you could be eligible — though every program is subject to lender approval. There are also county-level options like the Montgomery County Homeownership Program — a 0%-interest deferred second loan calculated as up to 40% of household income, capped at up to $50,000 in assistance (current as of 2026) — and Prince George's County's Pathway to Purchase (up to $50,000 in down payment and closing-cost help, current as of 2026).
Quick gut-check before you go further: run your scenario through my free Buyer Program Checker — it points you toward the programs you may match in a couple of minutes.
How do you actually apply and get started?
The single most important first step is to get pre-approved with an approved MMP lender. Pre-approval tells you the real number you'd need at closing, confirms which assistance programs you may qualify for, and makes your offer competitive when you find the home. From there your lender pairs your loan with the right assistance layer, you complete homebuyer education, and you move toward closing.
A first-hand tip — and a common pitfall: Don't shop for a house before you talk to a lender, and don't assume the first lender you call knows the Maryland Mortgage Program well. Not every lender is MMP-approved, and the ones who use these programs daily will catch assistance dollars a general lender might miss. I've seen buyers leave thousands of dollars of help on the table simply because they used the wrong lender first. Ask up front: "Are you an approved MMP lender, and which assistance programs do you write?"
Key takeaways
- You can buy a house in Maryland with little money down — many loans allow 3% or 3.5%, and assistance can cover much of that.
- MMP Flex 6000 gives a flat $6,000 zero-interest deferred second lien for down payment and closing costs, for first-time and repeat buyers.
- First Home 100 / 100+ is a private lender product from First Home Mortgage — First Home 100 provides 3.5% in down payment assistance and First Home 100+ provides 5%, with no first-time-buyer requirement and no income limits.
- Eligibility depends on income, purchase-price limits, and credit — verify the current figures with an approved MMP/CDA lender.
- The first step is getting pre-approved with an approved MMP lender; not every lender writes these programs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get help in Maryland?
No — not for every program. MMP Flex 6000 is open to both first-time and repeat buyers, and First Home 100 / 100+ also has no first-time-buyer requirement. Some programs, like MMP 1st Time Advantage, are generally first-time-buyer specific, so it depends on which one you use.
How much money do I need to bring to closing?
It varies by your loan, the assistance program, and your purchase price — there's no single number. Low-down loans often start around 3% to 3.5% down, and assistance like MMP Flex 6000 can offset much of that and help with closing costs. A pre-approval with an approved MMP lender will give you your real figure.
Is the down payment assistance free money?
No. Most Maryland assistance is a loan, not a gift. MMP Flex 6000, for example, is a zero-interest deferred loan you repay when you sell, refinance, or transfer the home — it's a powerful tool, but it's not "free money" and it's always subject to lender approval.
What credit score do I need?
For the Maryland Mortgage Program, the credit minimum is around 640 for most loans (current as of 2026). Requirements can differ by program and lender — some products require higher — so it's best to confirm your specific situation directly rather than rely on a general number.
See if you may qualify
Ready to find out how little you might actually need? Start by getting your pre-approval moving — Check My Buyer Eligibility to see where you stand, run the free Buyer Program Checker to match yourself to programs in minutes, or Book a Free Consultation and we'll map out your path together. You can also browse every option on my Maryland down payment assistance hub or dig into the MMP Flex 6000 program. Whatever you choose, the first move is the same: talk to an approved MMP lender and get pre-approved.
Last updated: June 22, 2026. Program details change frequently — verify current guidelines with a licensed lender; this is not a commitment to lend or a guarantee of eligibility. Ronnie Gilmer · Samson Properties · Serving Maryland & DC · Not affiliated with any government agency or the Maryland Mortgage Program.