Program Opening Doors to Homeownership for Baltimoreans Returns

Live Baltimore is proud to announce that the Buy Back the Block program will relaunch on October 27, 2025, extending an essential resource to residents who wish to become homeowners in the City. Launched in March 2023, Buy Back the Block was designed to prevent displacement and help Baltimore City residents become homeowners. The newly released 2025 Impact Report shows just how transformative the pilot program has been.

“The numbers in this report tell one story — but the lives changed tell another. We have heard clearly from residents that Buy Back the Block is making a real difference,” said Live Baltimore Executive Director Meghan McCorkell. “We are deeply grateful to the Mayor, City Council, and the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs for helping ensure that more Baltimoreans can access this life-changing opportunity.”

Evidence of Impact

An evaluation of the initial pilot phase, as detailed in Live Baltimore’s Buy Back the Block Impact Report (2025), shows:

• 117 grants awarded, totaling $1.59 million in direct assistance.
• Grant awardee home sales totaled $23.9 million across 57 neighborhoods.
• This initiative generated an estimated $1.08 million in single-year City tax revenue.

These results underscore the program’s ability to reduce displacement, support generational wealth, and give residents a real path to homeownership in the places they already call home all while demonstrating substantial economic impact in Baltimore.

“I’m so proud of the way we used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to help 117 Baltimoreans buy a home in Baltimore City,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott, “Restarting Buy Back the Block means more folks will be able to create and build wealth for themselves and their families here in Charm City. That’s life changing—for the residents who will directly benefit from this program, and all those who will indirectly benefit from the historic growth we’re witnessing right now.”

Funding for Buy Back the Block is made possible through an award from the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, as well as a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs.

What is Buy Back the Block?

Buy Back the Block is a resident retention and anti-displacement initiative offering two grant options to eligible residents in Baltimore City:

• $15,000 grant toward home purchase; or
• $20,000 grant for home purchase and renovations.

These grants do not need to be repaid. Eligible applicants must live in a grant-eligible neighborhood, have lived in their current home for at least 12 months, complete homeownership counseling through a city-approved agency, work with a Live Baltimore-approved lender, and meet other income and eligibility requirements.

“Homeownership is foundational to strong, stable neighborhoods. Buy Back the Block empowers Baltimore residents to invest in their future and stay in the communities they love. By helping longtime residents become homeowners, we’re not just preventing displacement. We’re building generational wealth and keeping Baltimore’s blocks vibrant for years to come,” said City Council President Zeke Cohen.

Relaunch Details & Call for Applications

Relaunch Date: Monday, October 27, 2025

How to Apply: Baltimore City residents who do not currently own any real estate and are interested in Buy Back the Block should visit LiveBaltimore.com/bbb to verify their address, take the eligibility quiz, and view additional resources. Grant funding is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more: Download the full Buy Back the Block Impact Report (2025) and visit LiveBaltimore.com/bbb for application details.

About Live Baltimore

Live Baltimore is a nationally recognized, independent nonprofit organization committed to promoting the benefits of Baltimore City living. Each year, Live Baltimore provides thousands of individuals with information on the city’s 250+ neighborhoods, rental living options, homebuying incentive programs, historic tax credits, and more. For more information, visit LiveBaltimore.com. PRONUNCIATION NOTE: Live Baltimore’s name is pronounced with a short “I” sound, as in “I live in Baltimore City.”

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Media information:
Suzi Senna, Director of Marketing & Communications  |  suzi@livebaltimore.com | 410.637.3750 x117