4 common questions, each with a short answer first, then the details and the official sources.
Nick Jungmarker, REALTOR® · Long & Foster · Last reviewed
Short answer
ITIN mortgages are private loans for borrowers without an SSN; they are not MMP or FHA loans and usually need a larger down payment.
An ITIN mortgage is a loan from a private lender for borrowers who file taxes with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number. It is not part of the Maryland Mortgage Program, and FHA does not offer it, so terms are set by each lender and often include a larger down payment and higher rate than standard loans. Lenders typically ask for tax returns filed with your ITIN, proof of income and a credit history, which can include nontraditional credit. Compare at least two ITIN lenders and ask for a Loan Estimate from each.
Related: Nick Jungmarker, agente de bienes raíces en Maryland y Washington, DC · Programas de asistencia para comprar casa en Maryland · Maryland & DC Homebuyer Loan Programs · Can You Buy a Home in Maryland With an ITIN? ITIN Loans, Documents, Programs and Scams to Avoid (2026)
Short answer
No. Maryland Mortgage Program help does not require citizenship, but each borrower needs a valid Social Security number.
No. The Maryland Mortgage Program says U.S. citizenship is not required, but every borrower needs a valid Social Security number, must live in the home as a primary residence, and must meet income, price and credit rules. That means many permanent residents and other noncitizens with a valid SSN can use 1st Time Advantage and county programs that pair with it. Your loan type (conventional, FHA, VA or USDA) has its own residency rules, so confirm with an MMP-approved lender.
Related: Programas de asistencia para comprar casa en Maryland · Cómo comprar su primera vivienda en Maryland o DC · Maryland First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: What You Can Get and How It Works · Homebuyer Program Finder · Can You Buy a Home in Maryland With an ITIN? ITIN Loans, Documents, Programs and Scams to Avoid (2026)
Short answer
Yes. Spanish-speaking HUD-approved counselors, MMP's Spanish packet and CFPB Spanish guides can help; work with a bilingual agent and lender.
Yes. HUD-approved housing counselors, many of whom offer Spanish, can help with budgets, credit and the homebuyer class that Maryland Mortgage Program loans require, and the MMP publishes an information packet in Spanish. The CFPB also offers mortgage guides in Spanish. Contracts and loan documents are usually in English, so work with a bilingual agent and lender, and never sign anything you do not fully understand. Nick and Emmy Jungmarker, Long & Foster, work with buyers in English and Spanish across Maryland and DC.
Related: Nick Jungmarker, agente de bienes raíces en Maryland y Washington, DC · Cómo comprar su primera vivienda en Maryland o DC · Emmy Jungmarker, agente inmobiliaria en Maryland y 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.