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House Keys for Employees (HK4E)

Policies and Procedures

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) participates with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) House Keys for Employees Program (HK4E) through a partnership with the Charles County Commissioners.  This employee benefit is available to all benefits-eligible employees who meet the eligibility requirements of the State HK4E Program and have been employed by CCPS for at least one (1) year.

Under the HK4E Program, the Maryland Department of Housing and  Community Development will match (up to $5,000) any employer's contribution towards an employee's down payment or settlement expenses for a first time home purchase.

Eligibility

  • Any CCPS permanent employee who is benefits-eligible and has been employed by CCPS at least one (1) year may apply for the program provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
     
  • The eligible employee must agree to work for CCPS for an additional three (3) year period unless the employee is released from this requirement through Human Resources.
     
  • The home purchase must be financed through the Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) with a qualified Maryland Community Development Administration (CDA) lender.
     Find participating lenders
     
  • To qualify for MMP, and therefore HK4E Program, an applicant's annual household income cannot exceed the established program limits.
     Income and Purchase Price Limits
     
  • The amount of home purchase and the amount financed cannot exceed maximum limits as set by MMP.
     
  • An employee (an all persons listed on the load) must be a first-time homebuyer and must be purchasing a home in Charles County.  First-time home buyer includes those person's not having owned a home within the past three years.
     
  • If the home is not located in a Priority Funding Area (PFA), the home must be existing construction.  PFAs can be viewed at:
     https://mmp.maryland.gov/Pages/Property-Information.aspx
     
  • If the home is located in a PFA, the home may be existing construction or new construction.
     
  • The purchased home must be used as the buyer's principal residence; investment property is not eligible.
     

Financial Assistance / Terms and Conditions

  • CCPS through Charles County Government will offer, as a benefit to eligible employees, a loan in the amount of $5,000 to be used towards the employee's down payment/settlement costs for the purchase of a home, as outlined above.
     
  • The loan will accrue 0% interest.
     
  • As with the State's match, there will be a lien against the property for the loan.
     
  • The loan shall be repaid when the property is sold, transferred or refinanced.
     
  • The employee will be responsible for advising their employer if the property for which they received the loan, is sold, transferred or refinanced.
     
  • One loan per household.

Processing Procedures

  • The Office of Human Resources will be responsible for notifying employees of this employee benefit.  All state Program information (including current income limits and acquisition and loan limit(s) can be viewed at https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx
     
  • Employees participating in the program should provide the following completed documents to the Office of Human Resources four (4) weeks prior to the anticipated settlement date.

House Keys for Employee Program Employer/Employee Agreement

House Keys for Employees Verification of Partner Contribution

House Keys 4 Employees Information Sheet

  • The Office of Human Resources completes Section II of the Verification of Partner Contribution and forwards all completed documents to Charles County Government Fiscal Services.
     
  • The Office of Human Resources will coordinate with Charles County Government Fiscal Services to ensure that the loan check is issued for settlement.
     
  • Once settlement has occurred, a lien is placed against the property for the HK4E loan and employee must forward the settlement statement to the Office of Human Resources within five (5) days from closing.
     
  • All the completed documents will be placed in the employee's personnel folder.
     
  • When the property is sold, transferred or refinanced, the Human Resources staff ensures the loan is repaid to the County.
     
  • Income limits and acquisition and financing limits are updated as necessary on employee information forms.

Mortgage Program Information links

Maryland Mortgage Program Information Kits

Maryland SmartBuy Program

If you have any questions about the House Keys for Employees Program, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 301-934-7255.