2026 Maryland Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and Multifamily Rental Financing Program Guide (Guide) – Effective 4/8/26 

Governor Wes Moore has signed the 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and the Multifamily Rental Financing Program Guide (the “Guide”). The new QAP and Guide are effective as of April 8, 2026, and will govern all applications received on or after this date. The 2026 QAP may be accessed at this link. 

2026 Competitions for LIHTCs and Rental Housing Funds: Round Deadlines 

DHCD will conduct two (2) Competitive Funding Rounds in 2026: 

  • Applications for the first 2026 Competitive Funding Round are due by Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM. 
  • Applications for the second 2026 Competitive Funding Round are due by Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM. Additionally, for the second round, DHCD will waive 3.14 Additional Criteria Applicable to the Competitive Funding Round, in connection with the requirement that all projects competing in the general pool achieve at least two (2) points under Section 4.7 Housing Starts Now. 

DHCD requires one (1) complete electronic application, including attachments and exhibits, to be submitted through Procorem. The 2026 Competitive Funding Rounds will be governed by the 2026 QAP and Guide. 

To streamline the submission process, DHCD has created the Electronic Submission Package Request form to request a WorkCenter in Procorem for each project. 

Pre-Round Information Session 

DHCD will hold a virtual Pre-Round Information Session on Thursday, May 28, 2026 from 10 am – 12 pm via video conference. At this session, DHCD will discuss resources available for the Round, explain changes to the QAP and Guide or process, and provide an opportunity for questions and answers. Email [email protected] if you have any questions you would like addressed during the Information Session presentation. 

You can join the pre-round information session using the video call link or call in using the information below: 

PHONE: +1 559-931-1433 

PIN: 697 773 113# 

2026 Round 1 LIHTC Equity Raise-Up Rate 

  • The Tax Credit raise-up rate to be used in scoring the Leveraging Category (Section 4.5.1) will be $0.84. 

2026 Round 1 Interest Rate Assumptions 

  • For the 2026 Competitive Round 1, applicants are still required to submit letters of intent, per section 3.6 of the Guide, but applications should assume a 6.9% interest rate for first-lien debt calculations, regardless of any quoted interest rate that may be indicated in the letter of intent. 

2026 Round 1 Resources  

  • Applicants may request up to $2.5 million in Rental Housing Financing Program (RHFP) funds, including Partnership Rental Housing Program (PRHP) funds, per project.