5 common questions, each with a short answer first, then the details and the official sources.
Nick Jungmarker, REALTOR® · Long & Foster · Last reviewed
Short answer
For MMP loans: no home ownership in the past 3 years. For the state transfer tax break: never owned a Maryland principal residence.
It depends on the benefit. For the Maryland Mortgage Program, you count as a first-time buyer if you have not owned residential property in the past 3 years, with exceptions for some targeted areas and qualifying veterans. For the state transfer tax break, the test is stricter: you must never have owned a Maryland home that was your principal residence, and you must live in the new home. Repeat buyers can still use MMP Flex programs if they meet income and price limits, and an MMP-approved lender confirms ownership and other rules. General information; confirm with an MMP-approved lender.
Related: Maryland First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: What You Can Get and How It Works · Homebuyer Program Finder · First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland & DC
Short answer
Maryland's 1st Time Advantage gives $6,000 or 3% to 5% of the loan; Montgomery and Prince George's programs add up to $50,000.
Statewide, the Maryland Mortgage Program's 1st Time Advantage offers $6,000 or 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan as a 0% deferred second loan, and HomeStart offers 6% for lower-income first-time buyers. Some counties add their own help, such as up to $50,000 through the Montgomery Homeownership Program and up to $50,000 through Pathway to Purchase in Prince George's County. Funding opens and closes during the year, so a participating lender confirms what is available for your income, price and county. General information; confirm with an MMP-approved lender.
Related: Maryland First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: What You Can Get and How It Works · Prince George's County Homebuyer Assistance in 2026: Pathway to Purchase and How to Stack It · Homebuyer Program Finder · Maryland Down Payment Assistance Programs
Short answer
Usually yes, but only when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage. Most MMP help is a 0% deferred loan with no monthly payment.
Usually yes, but not monthly. Most Maryland Mortgage Program assistance is a 0% interest deferred loan with no monthly payment that you repay when you sell, refinance, transfer the home or pay off the first mortgage. Some programs work differently: SmartBuy 3.0 is forgiven 20% per year over 5 years if you stay in the home, and Prince George's Pathway to Purchase is forgiven after 15 years of owner occupancy under its current county guidelines. Read your second-loan note so you know the payoff trigger. General information; confirm with an MMP-approved lender.
Related: Maryland First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: What You Can Get and How It Works · Prince George's County Homebuyer Assistance in 2026: Pathway to Purchase and How to Stack It
Short answer
MMP requires a valid SSN, primary residence, income and price limits, usually a 640 credit score, and a homebuyer class. Citizenship is not required.
You must be at least 18, have a valid Social Security number, live in the home as your primary residence, and stay under MMP's income and purchase price limits for your county and household size. U.S. citizenship is not required. The MMP product matrix lists a 640 minimum credit score for most loans, and every buyer must complete a homebuyer education class before closing. You also cannot own other real property at closing, and an MMP-approved lender makes the final approval. General information; confirm with an MMP-approved lender.
Related: Maryland First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: What You Can Get and How It Works · Homebuyer Program Finder · Maryland Down Payment Assistance Programs
Short answer
It lets eligible Maryland savers subtract up to $5,000 a year of deposits from state taxable income if the money goes to buying a Maryland home.
It is a savings account you designate for buying a Maryland home that lets you subtract up to $5,000 of contributions per year, plus the account's earnings, from your Maryland taxable income, for up to 10 years (earnings capped at $50,000). You claim it on Form 502SU if you have not owned or bought a home in Maryland in the last 7 years. The money must go to a down payment and allowable closing costs within 15 years, and other withdrawals are taxed and carry a 10% penalty. General information, not tax advice; confirm with a CPA.
Related: Maryland First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: What You Can Get and How It Works · First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland & DC
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General information, not legal, tax, or lending advice. Laws, rates, and program rules change; confirm with the official source or a Maryland professional. Facts checked October 27, 2026.