See what you qualify for
County programDeferred

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP)

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Last verified

The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: First-time homebuyer (no ownership of residential real estate in prior 3 years) or displaced homemaker.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: 640 minimum FICO; underwriting follows the buyer's first-mortgage product
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through ACDS-approved HUD housing counseling agencies; 8-hour homebuyer education certificate required.
  • Residency: Property must be located in Anne Arundel County (excluding the City of Annapolis) and be the buyer's primary residence.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen permitted by HUD HOME / CDBG rules
  • Property must be located in Anne Arundel County (excluding the City of Annapolis), be the buyer's primary residence, and meet HUD HOME / CDBG property standards. Buyer must be a first-time homebuyer (no ownership of residential real estate in the prior 3 years) or a displaced homemaker. Household income may not exceed 80% of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA AMI (approx. $85,563 for 1-person up to $141,750 for 8-person). Maximum purchase price $500,000. Minimum borrower contribution of $1,000 from own funds. Liquid asset cap typically $10,000. 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer education required. Loan is 0% interest, deferred for the life of the loan; repaid upon sale, refinance with cash-out, transfer, or loss of primary-residence status.
  • A home in Anne Arundel County

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Purchases above the $500,000 price cap
  • Households above 80% of area median income
  • Homes outside Anne Arundel 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

80% of Anne Arundel 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

Anne Arundel County’s homes

  • 59.5% single-family
  • 21.4% townhouse
  • 1.7% 2–4 units
  • 16.1% 5+ units
  • 1.3% mobile & other

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

$467,900

Anne Arundel County median home value

45%

built before 1980

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

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through ACDS-approved HUD housing counseling agencies; 8-hour homebuyer education certificate required..

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through First-come, first-served; applicant works with ACDS-approved lender and submits application package through ACDS., 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 Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP)?

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) is Anne Arundel County's flagship down-payment and closing-cost assistance program for first-time homebuyers, administered by Arundel Community Development Services, Inc. (ACDS) on behalf of Anne Arundel County. MAP provides up to $20,000 as a 0% interest deferred-payment second mortgage. Funds are sourced from HUD HOME and CDBG pass-through dollars and from county general-fund appropriations. The program covers all of Anne Arundel County except the City of Annapolis (which has its own program). Maximum purchase price is $500,000. Income limits track HUD 80% AMI for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA. Up to $20,000 in down-payment and closing-cost assistance as a 0% interest deferred-payment second mortgage for first-time homebuyers purchasing in Anne Arundel County (excluding the City of Annapolis). Funds may also be used to reduce mortgage principal in select transactions. No monthly payments. loan is repaid upon sale, refinance, transfer, or when the home ceases to be the borrower's primary residence. Funding comes from HOME, CDBG, Federal, and Local Government.

Do you have to pay it back?

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) 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 in full upon sale, refinance with cash-out, transfer, or loss of primary-residence status. No monthly payments while occupied as primary residence. 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?

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: First-time homebuyer (no ownership of residential real estate in prior 3 years) or displaced homemaker. On credit, the program states: 640 minimum FICO; underwriting follows the buyer's first-mortgage product. A homebuyer education course is required, through ACDS-approved HUD housing counseling agencies; 8-hour homebuyer education certificate required. Residency requirement: Property must be located in Anne Arundel County (excluding the City of Annapolis) and be the buyer's primary residence. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen permitted by HUD HOME / CDBG rules. Property must be located in Anne Arundel County (excluding the City of Annapolis), be the buyer's primary residence, and meet HUD HOME / CDBG property standards. Buyer must be a first-time homebuyer (no ownership of residential real estate in the prior 3 years) or a displaced homemaker. Household income may not exceed 80% of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA AMI (approx. $85,563 for 1-person up to $141,750 for 8-person). Maximum purchase price $500,000. Minimum borrower contribution of $1,000 from own funds. Liquid asset cap typically $10,000. 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer education required. Loan is 0% interest, deferred for the life of the loan; repaid upon sale, refinance with cash-out, transfer, or loss of primary-residence status.

What are the income limits?

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income at or below 80% Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA AMI: 1-person ~$85,563; 4-person ~$122,150; 8-person ~$141,750. Limits updated annually by HUD. 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?

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) caps the purchase price at $500,000. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, Townhouse, and Condominium. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Where does it apply?

Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) serves homebuyers purchasing in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

How do you apply?

Applications for Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) 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; applicant works with ACDS-approved lender and submits application package through ACDS. 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 Anne Arundel County homebuyers

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

All 77 programs for Anne Arundel County

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