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Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program

Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Baltimore, Maryland.

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The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Standard 3-year FTHB lookback (typical).
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: No SWP-published minimum; first-mortgage lender's product minimums apply.
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through Baltimore City-approved homeownership counseling agencies (NHS of Baltimore, GO Northwest, Druid Heights CDC, etc.). SWP refers buyers to partner counselors.
  • Residency: Property must be in SWP footprint (7 neighborhoods) and serve as primary residence.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: Per first-mortgage product rules.
  • Property must be in Southwest Partnership footprint (Barre Circle, Franklin Square, Hollins Roundhouse, Mount Clare, Pigtown, Poppleton, or Union Square) - typically an SWP-rehabilitated home in one of the three SWP homeownership zones (Pigtown, Mount Clare, Franklin Square). First-time homebuyer (typical). 80% AMI household income cap. Owner-occupied primary residence. $1,000+ buyer contribution (typical). Pre-purchase counseling certificate from Baltimore City-approved agency. Property-level affordability covenant typically applies (5-year retention plus longer-term resale price restriction).
  • A home inside Baltimore city limits

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Households above 100% of area median income
  • Homes outside Baltimore

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

Income limit

100% of Baltimore City County’s area median income

HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.

$134,000
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)

Where it applies

Baltimore’s homes

  • 14.7% single-family
  • 50.4% townhouse
  • 9.9% 2–4 units
  • 24.7% 5+ units
  • 0.3% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$229,600

Baltimore median home value

81.6%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Baltimore

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through Baltimore City-approved homeownership counseling agencies (NHS of Baltimore, GO Northwest, Druid Heights CDC, etc.). SWP refers buyers to partner counselors..

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Project-based; buyer applies for an SWP-rehabilitated home through SWP's homebuyer process. SWP coordinates DPA layering with state DHCD, city DHCD, and partner CDFI., and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Questions about this program

What is Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program?

Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Baltimore, Maryland. Project-based DPA for SWP-rehabilitated homeownership zones in Pigtown, Mount Clare, and Franklin Square (Southwest Baltimore). $5K-$20K typical, 0% deferred forgivable, 5-year retention (project-specific affordability covenant longer). 80% AMI, FTHB. Layered with State DHCD / City / CDFI subsidies. Down payment / closing-cost assistance for buyers purchasing in the Southwest Partnership (SWP) footprint - the seven Southwest Baltimore neighborhoods of Barre Circle, Franklin Square, Hollins Roundhouse, Mount Clare, Pigtown, Poppleton, and Union Square. Project-based DPA layered into SWP-rehabilitated homeownership zones in Pigtown (adjacent to Carroll Park), Mount Clare (Union Square / Wilkens Avenue), and Franklin Square (Franklin Square Park / Route 40 corridor). Typical assistance ranges $5,000-$20,000 depending on project, layered with State DHCD subsidies, City of Baltimore subsidies (V2V, BRNI, etc.), and CDFI funding. Structured as 0% deferred forgivable second mortgage with 5-year retention (or longer affordability period for more heavily subsidized projects). 80% AMI cap (income range $62,600-$118,050 per LendSquawk seed). FTHB only (typically). Pairs with Maryland Mortgage Program first mortgage and other FHA/VA/USDA/conventional first mortgages. Funding comes from Foundation, State, Local Government, and CDFI.

Do you have to pay it back?

Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program is forgiven after 5 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Soft second, due on sale/transfer/cash-out refi/non-owner-occupancy. Forgiveness schedule project-specific (typically 5 years pro-rata, and longer affordability covenant may apply on resale). The assistance is recorded in 2 position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Standard 3-year FTHB lookback (typical). On credit, the program states: No SWP-published minimum; first-mortgage lender's product minimums apply. A homebuyer education course is required, through Baltimore City-approved homeownership counseling agencies (NHS of Baltimore, GO Northwest, Druid Heights CDC, etc.). SWP refers buyers to partner counselors. Residency requirement: Property must be in SWP footprint (7 neighborhoods) and serve as primary residence. Citizenship or immigration status: Per first-mortgage product rules. Property must be in Southwest Partnership footprint (Barre Circle, Franklin Square, Hollins Roundhouse, Mount Clare, Pigtown, Poppleton, or Union Square) - typically an SWP-rehabilitated home in one of the three SWP homeownership zones (Pigtown, Mount Clare, Franklin Square). First-time homebuyer (typical). 80% AMI household income cap. Owner-occupied primary residence. $1,000+ buyer contribution (typical). Pre-purchase counseling certificate from Baltimore City-approved agency. Property-level affordability covenant typically applies (5-year retention plus longer-term resale price restriction).

What are the income limits?

Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program limits household income to 100% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income at or below 80% AMI for Baltimore HMFA (~$62,600 1-person to $118,050 8-person per seed; verify with SWP for current cycle). The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program caps the purchase price as follows: Per project sale price; SWP-rehabilitated homes typically priced under $250K-$300K. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, Rowhouse, and Townhome. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Where does it apply?

Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program serves homebuyers purchasing in Baltimore, Maryland. The program targets specific areas: TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS: Southwest Partnership footprint - Barre Circle, Franklin Square, Hollins Roundhouse, Mount Clare, Pigtown, Poppleton, Union Square. Primary homeownership-zone activity in Pigtown, Mount Clare, and Franklin Square.

How do you apply?

Applications for Baltimore Southwest Partnership Inc Down Payment Assistance Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Project-based; buyer applies for an SWP-rehabilitated home through SWP's homebuyer process. SWP coordinates DPA layering with state DHCD, city DHCD, and partner CDFI. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Program terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.