How to Apply to the MPDU Sales Program

Summary of Steps for Applying to the MPDU Homeownership Program

MPDU Homeownership Program - Description
Program Rules
Benefits of MPDU Home Ownership
Who is Eligible?
How to Apply
Sign up for MPDU Required Classes

MPDU Homeownership Program - Description

Montgomery County's Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) Program offers affordably priced townhomes and condominiums - both new and resale - to first-time home-buyers who have a moderate household income (see list of minimum and maximum income levels below).

MPDU buyers must be able to qualify for a mortgage; pay a down payment; pay settlement fees including advance taxes and advance insurance; and pay a monthly mortgage payment, utilities, and other costs. The MPDU Program does not provide financing to purchase MPDUs. Special financing and down payment and closing cost assistance are available through the Housing Opportunities Commission.

MPDU owners are responsible for all home maintenance, home improvements, condo and homeowner association fees (if applicable), and compliance with homeowner or condominium rules and regulations.

Program Rules

Homes that are purchased through the MPDU Program, whether new or re-sale, have controls on them. All new MPDUs, and some resale homes, have 30 year controls; a very few resale homes have 15 year controls. These controls are in the form of a legal document, known as MPDU restrictive covenants that states:

During the control period, the owner must occupy the home as his or her primary residence. The unit may not be rented out. The owner must certify before taking occupancy that he or she will occupy the unit as his or her primary residence during the control period.
During the control period, the owner must not refinance the property for more than the controlled resale price established by the MPDU office (owners are prohibited from refinancing the property based on the market value of the property).
During the control period, the owner can only sell their MPDU at the MPDU established controlled resale price through the MPDU Program.
During the control period, MPDU owners must not purchase another residential property anywhere.
When the MPDU is sold after the control period, the owner may sell the unit at a market price and must pay 50% of the excess profit to Montgomery County. For more information see Requesting a Shared Profit Calculation.
After the control period expires, it is strongly recommended that owners contact the MPDU office prior to refinancing their MPDU. Refinancing does not relieve the owner of the obligation to make a shared profit payment to the County upon sale; therefore, it is important not to refinance for the full market value. The MPDU office can provide you with an estimate of the shared profit payment that would be owed to the County.

Benefits of MPDU Home Ownership

MPDU purchasers own a home in Montgomery County at a greatly reduced price. Living in Montgomery County provides access to high quality services and schools.
By purchasing an MPDU home with a standard 30-year fixed rate mortgage, the MPDU owner’s monthly mortgage payment will not increase each year, unlike rent which landlords typically increase annually.
MPDU owners are able to deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes from their income tax.
Property taxes are based on the MPDU value of the MPDU, not a "market value."
MPDU owners have the freedom to make improvements to their home. (Note, however, that only certain improvements can be credited toward the resale price of an MPDU.)
The maximum resale price for an MPDU home during the control period is what the MPDU owner originally paid for the MPDU, plus inflation and the cost of eligible improvements.

Who Is Eligible?

You are NOT eligible to participate in the MPDU purchase program if you currently own a house or have owned a house anywhere in the past five (5) years.

Income Minimums and Maximums (all incomes are gross household income; that is, household income before taxes)

minimum annual household income: $40,000

maximum annual household income (effective April 19, 2022):

Eligible Household Size
and Maximum Income
Household Size	Maximum Income
1	$69,500
2	$79,500
3	$89,500
4	$99,500
5	$107,500
6	$115,500

Participants in the MPDU purchase program MUST be able to:
- pay a down payment, settlement fees and other closing costs, and
- afford the monthly mortgage and other expenses for the property.
Financing. Applicants for the MPDU purchase program must provide a mortgage pre-qualification letter from an in an amount of at least $150,000. The MPDU Program does not provide financing. Special financing and down payment and closing cost assistance are also available through the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC).
All adult wage earners in a household must be able to provide a copy of their U.S. Federal Tax Return for the most recent filing year.

How to Apply - Easy as 1...2...3!

Step 1: Attend an online First-Time Home-Buyer Class

Step 2: Attend an online MPDU Orientation Seminar

Step 3: Take an online MPDU Application Tutorial

The MPDU Program does not mail applications for the MPDU purchase program. New, first-time homebuyers in the MPDU program need to attend the first two required online training sessions (Steps 1 and 2) in order to receive instructions for applying to participate in the MPDU program. They must then complete an online Application Tutorial (Step 3) to turn in their completed application.
These classes are designed to answer all questions about the MPDU program, provide information about the MPDU purchase application and selection process, and provide information about homeownership responsibilities.
Current certificate holders, expired certificate holders, and persons who are re-applying to the MPDU program should click here for instructions.

Note: Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Before taking the online Application Tutorial, applicants must:

attend a First-Time Home-Buyer Class,
attend an MPDU Orientation Seminar,
obtain a mortgage pre-qualification letter from an HOC approved lender, and
gather all other documents needed for the application (as identified in the instructions received at the Orientation Seminar).

ALL CLASSES ARE VALID FOR ONLY TWO YEARS. If you have not applied to the MPDU program within two years of taking any of the classes, you must re-take those classes before you can apply to the program.

Each registered student MUST use a separate email address, unless you are a family or individuals purchasing together.

Steps and Instructions

Step

Instruction

Step 1:

Attend an online First-Time Home-Buyer Class

Montgomery County has arranged for Housing and Community Initiatives (HCI) to conduct First Time Homebuyer classes for the MPDU program. These homebuyer classes are held online two or three times per month.

Click here to sign up for a Montgomery County MPDU sponsored First-Time Home-Buyer Class.

Note: It is important to be on time for these sessions. If you are late, you will not be able to attend the class and you must reschedule. After completing this class, you will receive a First-Time Home-Buyer Class Certificate of Completion.

The MPDU program will accept a Certificate of Completion from another first-time homebuyer class, but only if the class:

Has been taken within the previous two years; and
Is conducted by a nonprofit housing counseling agency certified by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (you must provide documentation that the organization is HUD certified).

Several agencies provide First-Time Homebuyer classes in Montgomery County, including:

If you take a First Time Homebuyer class that is offered by an agency other than HCI, call 311 and ask to speak to an MPDU staff person to submit the FTHB certificate from the other agency. The MPDU office will need to review and approve the certificate from the other agency before you will be able to sign up for the Orientation Seminar. (Please provide your FTHB certificate's information as soon as you have taken this class from an external agency, and before the Orientation Seminar class opens for registration.)

Step 2:

Attend an online MPDU Orientation Seminar

Attend an MPDU Orientation Seminar where you will learn about the program benefits, application and selection processes, and program rules. You must take the First Time Homebuyer Class before the Orientation Seminar. These MPDU Orientation Seminars are held online, generally once or twice per month.

Click here to sign up for an MPDU Orientation Seminar.

Note: It is important to be on time for these sessions. If you are late, you will not be able to attend the seminar and you will have to reschedule. After completing this seminar, you will receive links to the Application materials and the Next Steps to Apply for the MPDU sales program.

Step 3:

Take an online MPDU Application Tutorial

The MPDU Office no longer accepts paper applications. In order to limit potential virus exposure and improve security, the MPDU office has developed a confidential, secure online application system to take the Application Tutorial (Class #3- formerly the Application Session), complete an online application form and upload application documents.

Before signing up for the Application Tutorial and submitting your application, you will need to validate your attendance at the first two required classes. You will need to enter your Orientation ID. The Orientation ID is the number that you received when you registered for the Orientation Seminar. If you can’t remember your Orientation ID, click here . After validation you will receive instructions to create an online account for Montgomery County’s secure MPDU Application Portal, where you will be able to take the Application Tutorial and submit your application.

All MPDU classes are valid for two years. If you took either the First-time Homebuyer Class or the Orientation Seminar more than two years ago, you must re-take any expired classes. To re-take an expired class, refer to Steps 1 and 2.

Click here to validate your attendance at the first two classes, take the Application Tutorial and submit your application through the MPDU Application Portal.