MMP Income Limits 2026: Maryland\'s $50K+ County Spread Explained
Maryland Mortgage Program income caps run from ~$110K on the Eastern Shore to ~$160K+ in Montgomery — the widest spread of any mid-Atlantic agency. The cap follows the property\'s county, counts household income, and adjusts by household size.
Check Your County\'s MMP Cap — Free
Income + price cap + DPA eligibility in 2 minutes.
$110-165K
Income Cap Range
by county+size
Montgomery
Highest Caps
+ Howard
3 types
DPA Options
grant+deferred
640
Min Credit
all programs
MMP Income Caps by County Tier — Oct 2026
| County Tier | Income Cap | Typical Price Band | What To Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, Howard | ~$145-165K | ~$500-600K | Highest caps — price caps bite instead |
| Anne Arundel, Frederick, Carroll | ~$130-150K | ~$380-480K | DC/Baltimore suburb ring |
| Baltimore City/Co, PG, Harford | ~$115-135K | ~$300-400K | Highest-volume MMP counties |
| Western MD, Eastern Shore | ~$110-125K | ~$220-300K | Lowest caps — most inventory fits |
Approximate bands — MMP publishes exact county x household-size figures. Verify at mmp.maryland.gov. Or check your real approval amount →
The Property\'s County Rules — Not Yours
The cap attaches to where you BUY, not where you live or work. Over Montgomery\'s cap? A purchase across the line in Frederick or Carroll uses that county\'s row — sometimes the difference between qualifying and not.
Household size moves the number. Maryland\'s table adjusts by household size in most counties — a family of 5 gets a higher cap than a couple in the same row. Read your cell, not the headline.
Price caps also vary by county — and in Montgomery/Howard, the price cap can fail before income does, same squeeze as NoVA on the Virginia Housing side.
Quick check: under the caps? See which MD lenders run the MMP stack.
5 Limit Gotchas That Kill MMP Loans
1. Using the wrong county
You work in DC, live in PG, buy in Howard — the property's county governs. Lenders pull the row automatically; agents quoting a state-wide number are guessing.
2. Ignoring household size
The table has size adjustments — quoting the smallest row makes the program look tighter than it is; quoting the largest makes it look looser.
3. The off-loan earner
A working spouse or adult child at home counts toward household income even off the loan — the #1 surprise disqualification in dual-income DC suburbs.
4. Missing targeted tracts
Federally targeted areas in Baltimore City and elsewhere can waive first-time status and adjust caps — repeat buyers included. Check the map.
5. Last year's PDF
MMP revises annually; search results surface stale tables. The compliance worksheet your lender runs is the only number that counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the MMP income limit in Maryland?
County-specific — roughly $110K to $165K, one of the widest state-agency spreads in the country. Montgomery and Howard top the table (DC salaries); Allegany and Somerset run lowest. MMP counts household income for all occupants 18+. Verify your county at mmp.maryland.gov.Check my county cap — free →
Q2. Does household size change the MMP limit?
Maryland's table adjusts by household size in most counties — larger households get higher caps, similar to the Missouri 1-2 vs 3+ split. Don't assume the headline number: your row depends on county AND household size on the official PDF.
Q3. Is the income limit per borrower or household?
Household — all income from occupants 18 and older counts, whether or not they're on the loan. Dual-income families near the DC line hit this constantly: $160K cap looks generous until both salaries + a working adult child total $175K.Verify my household cap →
Q4. What if I earn over my county's cap?
Options: (1) targeted areas — federally targeted tracts can carry adjusted limits AND waive the first-time rule; (2) buy in a different county — the cap follows the PROPERTY's county, not where you work; (3) conventional 3% + standard DPA alternatives; (4) local programs — Baltimore City, Montgomery, and PG county run separate DPA with different caps that sometimes stack.
Q5. Do income limits differ between Flex 3%, Flex 4% grant, and the $6K?
Same county table across MMP DPA options — the limit attaches to the first mortgage, not the DPA flavor. Choose your DPA by repayment terms (grant vs deferred), not by limits.Compare MMP options →
Q6. Does overtime, bonus, or rental income count?
Stable documented income with a 2-year history typically counts — including rental income from rooms/boarders in some cases. The number that matters is MMP's compliance worksheet, not your W-2 guess. Get the limit check run BEFORE the purchase agreement.
Related Maryland & Income-Limit Guides
The County You Buy In Writes Your Cap
$110K to $165K+ depending on the property — plus a true-grant DPA on top. Check your cell.
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