Program Eligibility

Red brick row homes

To be eligible for the UMB Live Near Your Work (LNYW) Program, you must meet all of the following conditions:

  • You are a regular full- or part-time (50 percent FTE or more) faculty or staff employee of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) who is in good standing.
  • The home being purchased must be within the targeted neighborhoods of Barre Circle, Druid Heights, Franklin Square, Heritage Crossing, Hollins Market, Mount Clare, Pigtown/Washington Village, Poppleton, and Union Square.
  • You have completed a homeownership counseling program provided by a U.S. Housing and Urban Development-certified housing counselor before signing a contract for sale.
  • Creditworthiness.
  • Minimum homeowner down payment contribution of $1,000.

Please note that the UMB LNYW grant is not available to the following parties:

  • Part-time employees with less than 50 percent FTE.
  • Contractual employees. 
  • Postdoc fellow
  • Employees who are not in good standing.
  • University of Maryland Medical Center employees.
  • Employees purchasing homes outside of the initiative’s target neighborhoods.
  • UMB undergraduate or graduate students.

Am I Eligible for Live Near Your Work?

  • Are you a UMB faculty or staff member?
    Yes
    No
  • Are you considered a regular full-time or part-time (50% FTE or more) employee of UMB?
    Yes
    No
  • Have you or another member of your household already utilized a LNYW grant?
    Yes
    No
  • Do you plan on purchasing a home within one of the program’s qualifying neighborhoods (Barre Circle, Druid Heights, Franklin Square, Harlem Park, Heritage Crossing, Hollins Market, Mount Clare, Pigtown/Washington Village, Poppleton, Union Square, Upton)?
    Yes
    No
  • Can you make your newly purchased home your primary residence for at least 5 years from the date of settlement?
    Yes
    No
  • Have you ever or are you willing to complete a HUD-certified homeownership counseling program?
    Yes
    No
  • Are you able to contribute a minimum of $1,000 to the home's down payment?
    Yes
    No

See If You Qualify

Prepare to Apply

If you are interested in purchasing a home using UMB’s LNYW grant, there are numerous ways you can prepare to apply:

  • Research your housing options and consider the kind of home you would like to purchase.
  • Identify prospective neighborhoods that are a good fit for your lifestyle.
  • Check your credit score and strengthen your financial standing, if needed.
  • Take advantage of the financial literacy courses offered on campus through Launch Your Life.
  • Begin working with a homeownership counseling agency to earn a housing counseling certificate, which is a requirement for many homebuying assistance grants.
  • Find a mortgage lender that can advise on other grants you may qualify for.

To learn more about the homebuying process, visit Live Baltimore.