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MarylandMaryland runs from Baltimore rowhomes to Washington suburbs to the Eastern Shore, with closing costs that vary more by county than almost anywhere else in the region. We lend statewide from our Southampton, Pennsylvania office.
Old Line gold · title company or attorney closing · Mortgage Lender License
Maryland closings are handled by a title company or a settlement attorney; an attorney is not required, though many buyers in the Washington suburbs use one. What surprises buyers is the closing-cost variation: recordation and county transfer taxes are set locally and differ substantially from one county to the next, so the same purchase price closes for noticeably different amounts in, say, Baltimore County and Montgomery County.
Property taxes are billed by the county (or Baltimore City) and, where applicable, the municipality, and Maryland's Homestead Tax Credit limits how fast an owner-occupant's assessment can rise, which matters when you compare a seller's current tax bill to what yours will be.
Maryland has a state transfer tax plus county transfer and recordation taxes that vary by county. By law, first-time Maryland homebuyers get a reduced state transfer tax rate on an owner-occupied purchase, and the parties' split of the remaining taxes is a matter of contract. Baltimore City rowhomes can also come with ground rent, a legacy lease on the land under the house, which the title work has to identify and the lender has to account for.
For 2026 the FHFA baseline conforming limit for a one-unit property is $832,750. Loans above the applicable county limit are jumbo, with tighter reserve and credit requirements. Washington, DC metropolitan-area jurisdictions carry the high-cost ceiling of $1,249,125.
FHA limits are set separately by HUD for each county or city. We check both against the jurisdiction where the property sits before quoting anything.
We are not currently a participating lender for the Maryland Mortgage Program's bond and assistance products. What we do offer Maryland buyers: conventional loans with as little as 3% down for qualifying first-time buyers, FHA at 3.5% down, VA with $0 down for eligible service members and veterans (a large share of the market near Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Andrews), USDA $0-down financing in eligible areas of the Eastern Shore and rural counties, and jumbo, renovation, and investor programs. If a Maryland Mortgage Program product is the right fit, we will say so and point you to it.
Washington-area counties sit in the FHFA high-cost area, so their conforming limit is the ceiling rather than the national baseline. A loan that would be jumbo in Baltimore County can be a conforming loan in Montgomery or Prince George's County, with conforming pricing and guidelines. We check the county before we quote.
The Baltimore metro (Baltimore City and County, Anne Arundel, Howard, Harford, Carroll) and the Washington suburbs (Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick, Charles) are where the volume is. Cecil County, on the Delaware and Pennsylvania line, is effectively an extension of our home market.
Programs, limits, and closing customs change. Confirm current figures for your county or city before relying on anything here.
No. Maryland closings are conducted by a title company or a settlement attorney, and either is acceptable. Many buyers in the Washington suburbs use an attorney by preference.
Not at this time. We offer conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, renovation, and investor financing in Maryland. If a Maryland Mortgage Program product is the better fit for your situation, we will tell you.
The Maryland counties in the Washington, DC metropolitan area carry the FHFA high-cost ceiling for 2026 rather than the baseline. The Baltimore metro and the Eastern Shore use the baseline. We confirm the limit for the specific county on every file.
Some Baltimore City rowhomes sit on land subject to a long-term ground lease, with a small annual payment to a ground-rent owner. It is legal and common, but the title work must identify it and the lender accounts for it in the loan. Ground rents can often be redeemed; your title company will explain the options.
Reviewed by Steve Umansky, Sr. Branch Manager, NMLS #61764, licensed in Maryland, at Stellar Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #2190975. Verify any license at NMLS Consumer Access.
Figures reflect published program parameters and are subject to change. Loan limits, transfer tax rates, and agency limits are set by third parties and revised periodically. Nothing here is a commitment to lend.
Loan limits and closing costs are checked against the county or city where the property sits. We lend throughout Maryland; these are the areas with a dedicated page so far.
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