Through this program, anyone employed in the City of College Park or the Discovery District can receive $20,000 in down payment or closing cost assistance for a home purchased anywhere in College Park

Structured as a 7-year, zero-interest, forgivable loan, The Partnership created this program with the homebuyer in mind. With just a few steps, people employed in the City of College Park can use the program to purchase a home within city limits.

If you are employed in College Park, Maryland, you may be eligible to participate in the Live + Work Program! Eligible applicants:

18 years of age or older

Be employed by an employer in the City of College Park

Purchase a home in College Park for use as primary residence

Not already own a home in College Park

Use loan funds only for downpayment and/or closing costs

Agree to follow program instructions and abide by all provisions of the loan


Download Program Guidelines & Application to determine eligibility


Find a home of your choice anywhere in College Park and begin purchase process


Obtain a mortgage loan approval from the lender of your choice


Complete + submit application for review at least 3 weeks before settlement

You have questions – we have answers. Check out some commonly asked questions below.


The Partnership’s Live+Work Program is part of an effort to increase the number of people living near their place of employment as outlined in the University Community Vision.

Through this program, anyone employed in the City of College Park can receive $20,000 in down payment or closing cost assistance for a home purchased anywhere in College Park.

Live+Work Program application

Signed verification of employment

Ratified contract of sale executed by both parties

A copy of the signed mortgage loan application from lender

A copy of the appraisal from your lender

$100 loan origination fee:

To be eligible for the Partnership’s Live + Work Program Loan, an applicant must:  

Loans are made pending availability of funds, on a first-come first-served basis.  

The loan is a zero-interest, deferred payment loan with a term of 7 years that is forgivable at the end of the 7-year term, so long as the provisions of the program are met.  

The loan may only be used for down payment and closing costs at settlement for the purchase of a primary residence (single-family home, townhouse, condominium) in the City Limits of College Park; one loan per eligible address; one loan per employee.  

This 7-year loan will be secured on a property with a Deed of Trust,  Promissory Note and Declaration of Restrictive Covenants, with a balance due upon sale or transfer of the property, if the property ceases to be the primary residence of the homebuyer, or if the homebuyer otherwise fails to comply with the program requirements.  

The home will also be required to be owner-occupied for a period of 10 years, and a restrictive covenant will be placed on the property, together with the deed of trust and promissory note, as security and enforcement for this requirement.  

The homebuyer may combine loan proceeds with funds from the Maryland Mortgage Program offered by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the City of College Park New Neighbor Homeownership Grant Program, and other funding opportunities.

Homebuyers are required to live in the home purchased1 under this program and must certify to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation that this is the primary residence of the homebuyer, as defined by the State of Maryland. The homebuyer must occupy the residence for a period of at least ten years from the date of settlement. If the property ceases to be the homebuyer’s primary residence, if the homebuyer does not live in the home or otherwise fails to comply with the program requirements, the homebuyer will be required to repay loan proceeds to The Partnership according to a seven year schedule.