Buying a home in Maryland can look different depending on the county. Local down payment assistance, transfer and recordation taxes, housing programs, property types and financing considerations can vary by location.
Use this page to find Maryland homebuyer resources by county, and to see where local programs may supplement statewide options such as the Maryland Mortgage Program.
Why Your Maryland County Matters When Buying a Home
Your loan program is mostly a statewide or national decision. Where you buy affects a different set of factors:
- Local assistance. Some counties and municipalities run their own down payment or closing-cost programs on top of statewide assistance.
- Transfer and recordation taxes. These are set locally, and first-time-buyer treatment is not the same everywhere.
- Property taxes. Rates and any local credits differ by jurisdiction and affect what you qualify for.
- USDA eligibility. USDA financing depends on the map, so it is available in parts of some counties and not at all in others.
- Housing stock. Age, condition and property type influence which loan programs actually work on the homes you will be touring.
- Program limits. Income and purchase-price caps on assistance programs are frequently set by county.
Maryland Counties With Local Homebuyer Assistance Resources
In addition to statewide Maryland homebuyer programs, some counties and municipalities offer their own assistance. These are the jurisdictions we currently cover in detail:
Program availability, funding and eligibility can change. Verify current requirements before relying on a local assistance program.
Don’t See Your County Listed for Local Assistance?
A county without its own program page here does not mean you are without help. Most Maryland assistance is statewide, and it is available in all 24 jurisdictions:
Choose Your Maryland County
Detailed county homebuyer guides are being added as local program, tax and financing information is researched and verified. Counties without a guide yet are still covered by the statewide resources above.
Resources That Apply in Every Maryland County
Loan programs and most Maryland assistance are available statewide, so you can start here no matter which county you are buying in.
Not Sure Which Programs Apply Where You’re Buying?
Tell us where you are planning to buy
Answer a few quick questions and we will help you identify the Maryland loan and assistance options worth exploring for that area.