UMB’s Live Near Your Work (LNYW) Program and similar grants require the completion of a homeownership program provided by a HUD-certified housing counselor before signing a contract of sale.

If both you and your spouse will be on the mortgage note, both spouses must earn their homeownership counseling certificate.

You are not required to obtain your certification from UMB’s on-site agency. Organizations that sponsor the homeownership counseling are listed on the Live Baltimore site.