Guides
Maryland housing questions, answered
Short, practical guides from two Maryland REALTORS and a licensed contractor. Each one says where to confirm the details that change.
Where you can put a manufactured or modular home in Maryland
Where Maryland allows manufactured and mobile homes, how modular homes differ, what setup really costs, and the permits and septic to check first.
Tiny houses and shipping container homes in Maryland
Can you build a tiny house or shipping container home in Maryland? What the state code allows, tiny homes on wheels, and the county zoning to check.
What taxes you pay when you sell a house in Maryland
Transfer and recordation taxes, capital gains, the home sale exclusion and nonresident withholding: what a Maryland seller pays at and after closing.
Maryland property taxes on homes (and cars)
How Maryland property tax works on homes, when the bill is due, whether it is paid monthly or yearly, and why there is no yearly property tax on your car.
How to open an assisted living home or group home in Maryland
Who licenses assisted living and group homes in Maryland, the steps to open one, and what to check about the house, zoning and fire code before you buy.
What it costs to live in Maryland: income to rent or buy
How much you need to earn to rent or buy in Maryland, what counts as a comfortable salary, and why Maryland housing costs more than most states.
Can a foreigner buy a house in Maryland?
Yes. How non-US citizens buy a Maryland home: financing without US credit, closing from abroad, and the taxes withheld when you later sell.
Who is considered a first-time home buyer in Maryland?
Maryland uses two first-time buyer tests: one for Maryland Mortgage Program loans and one for the transfer tax break. Who qualifies and what you get.
How to buy a house in Maryland, and how long it takes
The steps to buying a Maryland home, how long each one takes, and what the inspection, appraisal and settlement cost. From two local REALTORS.
Maryland landlord-tenant rules every rental owner should know
Is Maryland tenant friendly? Deposits, rental licenses, lead rules, rent increase limits and what happens when a tenant stops paying rent.
Can you sell a house as-is in Maryland?
Yes. How an as-is sale works in Maryland: the disclosure or disclaimer form, what you still must tell buyers, selling without an agent, and timing.
How to buy a HUD home, foreclosure or short sale in Maryland
How HUD homes, bank-owned foreclosures, courthouse auctions and short sales work in Maryland, who can bid first, and what to check before you do.
How to get a home improvement license in Maryland
Who needs a Maryland MHIC license, the steps to get one, what homeowners should check before hiring, and how home inspector licensing differs.
Have a question that isn't here?
Call or send it over. If it is about a specific house, we will look it up.