Help Buying and Maintaining a Home in Southwest Baltimore County

Considering buying a house in Baltimore County, Maryland? Already own a home that needs some repairs? Check out the below resources to get you started.

Home-Buying Assistance

• The Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® (GBBR) is an excellent resource to begin your search for your new home. Members of GBBR serve clients and provide professional real estate services throughout the central Maryland area, including Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford and Howard Countries, as well as Baltimore City.
  
  To assist in your search, the GBBR provides such helpful tools as the HomesDatabase – MRIS, REALTOR.COM: Maryland Home Search, and SunSpot Real Estate. 
  
  For more information, contact 410-337-7200, Monday through Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors web site.

• In the southwest part of Baltimore County, the County partners with the Neighborhood Housing Service of Baltimore (NHS) to administer the Settlement Expense Loan Program (SELP) for first-time Baltimore County homeowners; SELP provides assistance of up to $10,000 towards closing costs for eligible households. Additionally, NHS provides individuals with financial counseling, an overview of the purchase process, and expert advice on the condition of the selected property. Please note that counseling is a required component of participation in the SELP program and must occur before contract.  In addition to the Neighborhood Housing Service, counseling may be obtained through the Eastside Community Development Corporation, 410-284-9861, Harbel Community Organization, 410-444-9152, HOME Partnership, Inc. 410-679-3200, We Are Family Community Development Corporation, 410-922-9623, Diversified Housing Development, 410-496-1214, or Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Hillendale, 410-769-8820.
  
  NHS also connects qualified buyers with incentives such as the income and property tax credit for those who purchase property in Lansdowne. 
  
  For more information, contact 410-769-8820.
  
• To find information on other programs in the state, visit the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and select "programs" on the left-hand side.

Rehab and Repair Assistance

For those owning and occupying a home that needs rehab or repairs, the Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation, Housing Opportunities Program offers the Single Family Rehabilitation Loan Program, the Emergency Repair Program, and the Maryland Housing Rehabilitation Program.

The Programs provide loans of up to $25,000 to improve housing stock and preserve neighborhoods by assisting homeowners to bring their residences up to Baltimore County codes. Loans may either be deferred until the sale of the home or repaid in monthly installments at low interest.  

Eligible repairs include: interior and exterior deficiencies, repairs to major systems, elimination of safety hazards, and installation of energy conservation features. Funds may also be used to make modifications for persons with disabilities and to correct lead-based paint hazards.

For more information, including eligibility requirements, contact 410-887-3124, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit the Baltimore County Housing Opportunities Program web site.

Revised July 5, 2006