Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E)

What is Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E)?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Frederick County, Maryland, administered by Frederick County Division of Housing.

• House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) is a Frederick County program for full-time regular Frederick County Government employees who use a Maryland Mortgage Program 1st Time Advantage or Flex 6000 loan. The county matches the MMP $8,500 Partner Match with an additional $8,500 0% deferred loan, for $17,000 total in down payment and/or closing cost assistance. No monthly payments are required; the loan is repayable on sale, refinance, transfer, or loss of primary-residence status.
• $8,500 county match ($17,000 total with MMP).
• 0% interest deferred loan.
• No monthly payments.
• Can add $10,000-$12,000 County HAP for households below 80% AMI.
• Funding comes from Frederick County (matching the Maryland Mortgage Program Partner Match).

How much assistance does it provide?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) offers between $8,500 and $8,500 in assistance.

• Award tiers: Standard $8,500 county match (total $17,000 with MMP $8,500). Households below 80% AMI may additionally qualify for $10,000-$12,000 through the County HAP.
• The program can be combined with Maryland Mortgage Program $8,500 Partner Match (required); also stackable with County HAP ($10,000-$12,000) for households below 80% AMI.
• Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Frederick County Division of Housing determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off.

• Repayment is triggered by Due upon sale, transfer, refinance, or when the home is no longer the borrower's primary residence.
• The assistance is recorded in Subordinate (lien recorded in Frederick County land records) position.
• Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

What are the income limits?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) limits household income to 150% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

• Total gross household income must be under 150% AMI (eff. May 2025): 1 or 2 persons = $196,680; 3 or more = $229,460.
• 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?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) can be used for Single Family, Townhouse, Condo, Modular, and Manufactured.

• New construction is eligible.
• Manufactured homes are eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) is limited to employees of Full-time regular Frederick County Government (FCG) employees.

• 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?

Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) serves buyers purchasing in Frederick County, Maryland.

How do you apply?

Applications for Frederick County House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E) go through Frederick County Division of Housing, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

1. 1

   Take a homebuyer education course

   Required by the program, through HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency; locally the City of Frederick.

2. 2

   Contact Frederick County Division of Housing to reserve funds

   Funds are reserved through Application submitted by an MMP-network lender; employment verified by Frederick County Human Resources; allow 21 days for processing, and are subject to availability.

3. 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 buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.