Costs to buy a house in Maryland | Maryland closing costs | Maryland house buying calculator | Homeownership costs | How to save when buying a home in Maryland
The average home buyer in Maryland spends between $35,006 and $116,089 when purchasing a $406,843 home — the state median value.
Keep in mind, this is just the cost of buying a home. After you close, you'll still need to budget for all the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Luckily, Clever Real Estate can help make buying a home more affordable. Working with a Clever agent means you'll not only get great service from start to finish, but you could also be eligible for up to 0.5% cash back after closing. That's about $2,034 back on an average-priced home in Maryland!
Put money back in your pocket with Clever Cash Back. Clever will connect you with a top, local agent and send you a check after closing.
✅ Work with a full-service realtor from a top broker
✅ Eligible buyers can get cash back
✅ Clever is 100% free, with zero obligation
Average cost to buy a house in Maryland
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Earnest money deposit (1-3%) | $4,068 to $12,205 |
| Down payment (3.5-20%) | $14,240 to $81,369 |
| Cash reserves | $4,353 to $6,529 |
| Closing costs (2.62%) | $10,648 |
| Inspection | $232 |
| Appraisal | $216 |
| Moving | $1,250 to $4,890 |
| Total | $35,006 to $116,089 |
Buyer closing costs in Maryland
While the other costs to buy a house in Maryland are pretty transparent, Maryland closing costs are a bit more nuanced. They're actually a series of smaller costs lumped together into one total. Here's a breakdown of all of the Maryland closing costs you'll likely pay when buying a home.
| Closing cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Closing fee | $407 |
| Recording fee | $98 |
| Title service fees | $1,290 |
| Origination fee | $2,034 |
| Underwriting fee | $600 |
| Discount points | $3,255 per point |
| Lender's title insurance | $494 |
| Owner's title insurance | $1,453 |
| Prorated property tax | Varies |
| Transfer tax | 0.25% |
| Total | $10,648 |
Keep in mind, closing costs are often negotiable. However, to win the negotiation battle, you'll need a great agent who can work out a deal with the seller. Clever can match you with a top agent in your area that can get the seller to shoulder more of the above costs.
Contact us at Clever for top agent recommendations.Cost to buy a house in Maryland calculator
Ongoing costs of homeownership in Maryland
Unfortunately, the cost to buy a house is just the beginning. After closing, you'll officially own the home and begin paying for the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Besides the expenses outlined above, you'll also want to consider private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowner's association (HOA) fees.
- If you pay less than 20% as a down payment on your house, you'll probably have to pay PMI monthly until you get to 20% equity. For the average Maryland homeowner, this is between $177 to $599 a month.
- Some neighborhoods have HOA fees for the care and maintenance of common areas. The national average is around $250 per month.
» MORE: The true cost of homeownership
Top ways to save money when buying a house in Maryland
1. Look into better financing options
Paying off debts and getting your credit in the best shape possible before applying for a loan will help you get a better interest rate, which will lower your monthly payments for the life of the loan.
You can also shop around to compare lenders so you get the lowest fees and interest rates available. It may be a good idea to enlist the help of a mortgage broker if you're not sure how to go about vetting lenders.
2. Participate in home buyer programs Maryland
The Maryland HUD page lists several local home buyer programs throughout the state. These programs typically come in the form of down payment assistance or favorable lending terms depending on your income and where you’re buying.
You may also be eligible for a state-wide program, such as the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP). They offer several options for assistance depending on your situation, including specialty loans for those who need help modifying a home for accessibility. There is also the USDA Rural Housing Program, which makes affordable housing available to those buying in select rural areas.
» MORE: First-time home buyer programs everyone should know about
3. Partner with an expert agent
Some real estate companies, like Clever, offer home buyers a percentage of their home's price back after the sale finalizes.
That means if you work with a Clever agent, you'll not only get the expertise that helps you get the best deal possible — you could also get up to 0.5% of your home price back after closing!
Clever matches you with top local agents so you can compare options and choose the best fit. And eligible buyers can get cash back after closing.
Fill out the form below and get started now. Clever's service is 100% free with no obligation.
