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Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.

Last verified

The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Not strictly first-time homebuyer; eligibility based on workforce employment.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: 640 minimum FICO
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through HUD-approved housing counseling agencies serving Queen Anne's County; homebuyer-education certificate required.
  • Residency: Property within Queen Anne's County, MD; buyer's primary residence; buyer or co-buyer must be a qualifying critical-workforce employee.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen permitted by underlying first-mortgage product
  • Property in Queen Anne's County, MD; buyer's primary residence. Buyer (or co-buyer) must be employed in a Queen Anne's County 'critical workforce' role - educators (Queen Anne's County Public Schools), law enforcement, firefighters/EMS, healthcare workers, and County government employees. Maximum household income approximately $85,560 (1-person) to $161,310 (8-person). Minimum FICO 640. Minimum buyer contribution $1,000. HUD-approved homebuyer-education class required.
  • A home in Queen Anne's County

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Households above 120% of area median income
  • Homes outside Queen Anne's County

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

120% of Queen Anne's 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

Queen Anne's County’s homes

  • 81.2% single-family
  • 6.7% townhouse
  • 2.3% 2–4 units
  • 6.8% 5+ units
  • 3.1% mobile & other

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

$462,700

Queen Anne's County median home value

33%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Queen Anne's County

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through HUD-approved housing counseling agencies serving Queen Anne's County; homebuyer-education certificate required..

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through First-come, first-served via Queen Anne's County DHCS., 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 Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. The Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program is Queen Anne's County's workforce-housing assistance program, providing up to $20,000 in 0% interest deferred-payment second-mortgage financing to critical-workforce employees - educators, law enforcement, firefighters/EMS, healthcare workers, and County government employees - purchasing primary residences in Queen Anne's County. Administered by the Queen Anne's County Department of Housing and Community Services. Up to $20,000 in second-mortgage financing as a 0% interest deferred-payment loan for critical-workforce employees purchasing a primary residence in Queen Anne's County. Critical workforce includes educators, law enforcement, firefighters/EMS, healthcare workers, and County government employees per Queen Anne's County guidelines. Funding comes from Local Government and HOME.

How much assistance does it provide?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program offers up to $50,000 in assistance. Homebuyer contribution: Minimum $1,000 borrower contribution from own funds. The program can be combined with other assistance, subject to the rules of each. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — the administering agency determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Repayment is triggered by Deferred 0% second-mortgage repayable upon sale, refinance with cash-out, transfer, or loss of primary-residence status. 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?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Not strictly first-time homebuyer; eligibility based on workforce employment. On credit, the program states: 640 minimum FICO. A homebuyer education course is required, through HUD-approved housing counseling agencies serving Queen Anne's County; homebuyer-education certificate required. Residency requirement: Property within Queen Anne's County, MD; buyer's primary residence; buyer or co-buyer must be a qualifying critical-workforce employee. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen permitted by underlying first-mortgage product. Property in Queen Anne's County, MD; buyer's primary residence. Buyer (or co-buyer) must be employed in a Queen Anne's County 'critical workforce' role - educators (Queen Anne's County Public Schools), law enforcement, firefighters/EMS, healthcare workers, and County government employees. Maximum household income approximately $85,560 (1-person) to $161,310 (8-person). Minimum FICO 640. Minimum buyer contribution $1,000. HUD-approved homebuyer-education class required.

What are the income limits?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program limits household income to 120% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income approximately $85,560 (1-person) to $161,310 (8-person) per Queen Anne's County CWF guidelines. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. 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?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program caps the purchase price as follows: Per Queen Anne's County program guidelines. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, Townhouse, and Condominium. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program names educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and healthcare workers among the groups it serves. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program serves homebuyers purchasing in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.

How do you apply?

Applications for Critical Workforce (CWF) Second Mortgage Financing Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through First-come, first-served via Queen Anne's County DHCS. 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.

Also for Queen Anne's County homebuyers

Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.

All 78 programs for Queen Anne's County

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