Maryland Real Estate, With a Real Plan
Selling, buying, relocating, or investing in Maryland? Freddy works with sellers and buyers in Prince George's, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Howard, Frederick and Charles counties, starting every move with a written plan.
Where We Work
Buyer case file: first-time buyers in Upper Marlboro who closed with about $12,000 in seller assistance.
Read the county guide →Buyer case file: a relocating family in Howard County, about $49,000 in negotiated value.
Read the county guide →Montgomery County charges recordation tax of $4.45 per $500 of consideration, plus tiered premium amounts on the portion above $500,000. An exemption covers the first $100,000 of consideration for qualifying individual buyers who intend to occupy the home as their principal residence for at least seven of the first twelve months after purchase.
Read the county guide →Anne Arundel charges a county transfer tax of 1.0%, or 1.5% of the entire price at $1,000,000 and up, plus a recordation tax of $7.00 per $1,000 of price.
Read the county guide →Frederick has no county transfer tax, only the state transfer tax and a county recordation tax of $7 per $500. A lot of Frederick homes outside the towns are on private well and septic, which changes what a buyer will ask about.
Read the county guide →Charles charges a flat 0.5% county transfer tax plus a recordation tax of $7 per $500 of price.
Read the county guide →What selling in Maryland involves, wherever you live
Every Maryland seller gives the buyer the state's Residential Property Disclosure and Disclaimer Statement. The Maryland Real Estate Commission publishes the form, and the regulation requires it in applicable residential sales (COMAR 09.11.07.01).
Closing costs include state and county taxes when the deed is recorded. The state transfer tax is 0.5% of the price, or 0.25% when the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer (Department of Legislative Services, 2026 fiscal note for HB 82). County transfer and recordation taxes differ by county, so the county pages above list each one with its official source. Maryland law presumes the buyer and seller split these taxes equally unless the contract says otherwise, with different rules for a first-time Maryland homebuyer (Real Property § 14-104). The Maryland seller closing-cost guide lists the rates by county and has an estimator. The Maryland buyer closing-cost guide covers the same taxes from the buyer's side.
Your plan starts with the numbers: likely sale range from comparable sales, what to fix and what to skip, and an estimated net after costs.
Buying in Maryland
Start with the Buyer Readiness Score to see where your financing and offer position stand. Then search homes.
Sellers & Buyers Across Maryland
Sell My House in Maryland
The Seller Advantage Program™ puts pricing, prep and marketing in place before day one, so serious buyers show up the week you list.
Get My Free Listing PlanBuy a Home in Maryland
The Buy With Confidence Protection System, strategy, financing readiness, neighborhood guidance, offer planning, and inspection support.
Get My Free Buyer PlanReady to Move in Maryland?
Schedule a Strategy CallSources
- COMAR 09.11.07.01
- Maryland Code, Real Property § 14-104, who pays recordation and transfer taxes
- Department of Legislative Services, HB 82 fiscal and policy note (2026 session)
- Montgomery County Code § 52-16B(b), recordation tax exemption
- Montgomery County Department of Finance, Bill 17-23 recordation tax changes
- Gordon Feinblatt LLC, summary of Montgomery County Bill 17-23 recordation/transfer tax rates
- Anne Arundel County Government, Recordation and Transfer Tax
- Ballard Spahr, Anne Arundel's $1 million transfer tax rate applies to the whole price
- Frederick County Code § 1-8-51
- Charles County Code, Article I (Recordation Tax)
- Charles County Code, Article X (Real Property Transfer Tax)
- Howard County Department of Finance, Recordation Tax
- Prince George's County, finance affidavit instructions