Live Near Your Work

If you are considering buying a house in Baltimore City and you are actively employed by Johns Hopkins, you may be eligible for a grant of up to $14,500 toward a down payment and closing costs. The property must be within the respective boundaries that qualify for the program, as shown on the boundary maps.

Before you apply for a Live Near Your Work (LNYW) grant, make sure you meet all three eligibility requirements and have an accepted offer on a home.

Requirement #1: Homeownership Counseling
You must complete a counseling class and a one-on-one appointment with an approved homeownership counseling agency before you make an offer on a home. The homeownership counseling certificate is good for one year.

Requirement #2: Employer Affiliation and Status
You must be a full-time, actively employed, benefits-eligible employee of one of the following organizations:

• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Johns Hopkins Bayview
• Johns Hopkins Community Physicians
• Johns Hopkins Health Care
• Johns Hopkins Health System

The program is not offered to employees who work fewer than 30 hours per week, intrastaff, residents, postdoctoral fellows, students, Applied Physics Laboratory employees, Broadway Services employees (contact Broadway Services HR regarding its LNYW program), Pharmaquip employees, Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, or Kennedy Krieger (contact Kennedy Krieger HR regarding its LNYW program).

Requirement #3: Designated Neighborhood
You may only use the grant toward homes in certain areas of Baltimore City. Visit our Boundaries and Grant Amounts page to familiarize yourself with these designated areas.

Note: Additional requirements apply. See our Important Details page for more information.

Grant amounts will be less applicable withholding taxes. Net grant amounts may vary based on individualized tax calculations.

Offered by Johns Hopkins and the Baltimore City Office of Homeownership, LNYW grants come with certain requirements and limitations. To give your grant application the best chance of being accepted, be sure to understand important details of the program. Some key highlights include the following.

• LNYW grants are taxable benefits at the supplemental rate of 23% and will appear in your paystub and on your W-2 form. The Baltimore City portion of the grant is not taxed and comes in the form of a physical check. Once you receive the city’s approval, you must pick up the check from the Baltimore City Office of Homeownership prior to your settlement date.
• LNYW grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis and funding for grants may be discontinued at any time.
• Your settlement date must occur no later than 60 days after a LNYW grant is made. You are required to provide proof of settlement to your case manager. If you need an extension beyond 60 days, contact contact our HR Support center.
• The following loans are not eligible for a LNYW grant:
  • No-documentation loan
  • Interest-only loan
  • Adjustable-rate loan
  • Any loans for which prepayment penalties or fees are applicable or assessed
  • Loan amounts greater than $517,500
  • Loans with co-signers (loans with co-buyers who both live in the home are eligible)

Homes for Sale
Looking for a charming row house in Charles Village? Or a spacious Tudor nestled in Northwood? Browse active listings in the Baltimore area to find your future home. Don’t forget to check the boundary maps to see if the homes fall in a LNYW eligible area.

Tours and Workshops
Sign up for a free walking tour of select LNYW neighborhoods or take part in a workshop to get insight on how to buy with the help of LNYW. Find out more information by visiting the Tours and Workshops page.

Contact Us
Please reach out to the HR Solution Center by calling 443-997-5400 or emailing hrsc@jhmi.edu

The experts at Live Baltimore can help you learn about other incentive programs and navigate the homebuying process. They offer services to help you:

• Explore neighborhoods, including in-person trolley tours around the city
• Choose the right home for you
• Discover financial programs to assist with costs, lower property taxes, and renovations
• Find real estate agents and get a mortgage
• And more!

Go to Live Baltimore to learn more, and browse homes for sale .