What Does It Cost to Sell a Home in Baltimore in 2026?

Prefer to watch? Ben breaks this down on video — watch here, or keep reading for the numbers.

Most sellers price out one number before listing: commission. It's the one you've already budgeted for. What catches people off guard at the closing table isn't commission — it's everything else, especially concessions, which are far more common in 2026 than most sellers expect.

The gap between what sellers expect and what actually happens

A Realtor.com Seller Survey found 83% of 2026 sellers expected to get their asking price or more, and 39% anticipated making a concession. Redfin's actual closed-sale data tells a different story: sellers gave buyers a concession in 44.7% of U.S. home sales in August 2026 — up from 42.6% a year earlier, the highest share for that month since at least 2020.

A concession isn't a price cut. It's you covering something on the buyer's side to get the deal done — closing costs, a repair credit, a rate buydown — and it comes out of your proceeds at closing.

Sources: Realtor.com Seller Survey, April 2026; Redfin analysis, September 18, 2026

Maryland transfer and recordation tax: city vs. county

Maryland charges a state transfer tax on every sale — 0.5% of the sale price, no matter where you're located. On top of that, Baltimore City and Baltimore County each add their own local transfer tax and recordation tax, and the two aren't the same:

• Baltimore City: 1.5% local transfer tax + 1.0% recordation tax + 0.5% state transfer tax = ~3.0% total
• Baltimore County: 1.5% local transfer tax + 0.5% recordation tax + 0.5% state transfer tax = ~2.5% total

Sources: Baltimore City Department of Finance — Property Transfer page; Baltimore County Government — Deed Transfer and Recordation page

In many Baltimore-area sales it's customary for buyer and seller to split the transfer tax — but that's negotiable and can vary deal to deal.

What's actually in the stack

Beyond commission, concessions, and transfer/recordation tax, a Baltimore closing typically includes title, escrow, and settlement fees; recording fees; prorated property taxes; and your mortgage payoff, including interest through the closing date.

A real Baltimore example

I once represented a buyer on a property here in Baltimore. At closing, the seller hadn't budgeted for the roof — the inspection had turned up needed replacement, and it nearly killed the deal. That was a $6,000 surprise, straight out of the seller's pocket. The deal closed, my client got a new roof, but the seller walked away with $6,000 less than they'd planned on. That's exactly the kind of number that never shows up until it's too late to plan for.

The bottom line

Don't ask "what does it cost to sell?" Ask "what do I walk away with?" Those are different questions, and only one of them actually matters. The line items are just line items — your net proceeds is the number you live on. That number depends on your home's condition, your neighborhood, and a realistic concession estimate for this market, not a national average.

FAQs

What's a seller concession, exactly?

It's you covering a cost on the buyer's side to keep the deal moving — closing costs, a repair credit, or money toward their interest rate. It comes out of your proceeds and shows up on the settlement statement as a credit from you.

Are concessions common in Baltimore right now?

Nationally, sellers gave concessions on 44.7% of August 2026 closings — the highest August share since at least 2020, per Redfin.

Do I split transfer taxes with the buyer?

It's customary in many Baltimore-area sales, but it's negotiable and varies by deal.

Why does it cost more to sell in Baltimore City than Baltimore County?

Recordation tax is set locally, and the City's rate (1.0%) is double the County's (0.5%). Combined with matching transfer tax rates, City sellers pay about a half-point more overall.

Can I know my exact number before I list?

Yes — bring us your address and we'll build a real net sheet: your state, your county, your payoff, and a realistic concession estimate for your specific market. Better to see it now than be surprised at closing.

Ben Garner, Owner, GARNER+CO. 830+ homes sold personally, $310M+ in volume. Top 1% of REALTORS® nationwide by transaction volume (NAR, 2025). Baltimore Magazine Top Agents 2026. Live Baltimore City Expert. MD license #659786. Selling since 2015.

Bring us your address and we'll show you exactly what the check looks like — before you ever sign a listing agreement. Call or text 443-212-8005 for your free, no-pressure net sheet. Better to see the number now than be surprised by it at closing.