Maryland sellers can expect to pay around 3.57% of their home's final sale price in closing costs. For a $405,957 home — the median home value in Maryland — you'd pay about $14,492.
In most cases, your closing costs will come out of your sales proceeds. If you don't earn enough from the sale to cover your closing costs, you might have to pay for these fees out of pocket — but this rarely happens.
Realtor commission fees are usually the most expensive part of selling a home in Maryland. Luckily, sellers can save thousands by using a low commission agent-matching service like Clever Real Estate.
Clever pre-negotiates low listing fees of just 1.5% with top full-service Maryland realtors so you can keep more money in your pocket after selling your home.
Keep reading to learn what you're responsible for as a seller and how much closing costs are in Maryland. Need estimates for your sale? You'll also find our Maryland seller closing costs calculator!
How much are seller closing costs in Maryland?
Seller closing costs include all the fees due when you finalize the sale of your home in Maryland. These expenses are required in order to transfer legal ownership of the property to your buyer.
Maryland seller closing costs | Average rate | Average cost* |
|---|---|---|
0.33% | $1,345 | |
0.25% | $1,015 | |
0.51% | $2,066 | |
2% | $8,119 | |
Varies | Varies | |
Total | #N/A | #N/A |
*Based on a sale price of $405,957, the typical home value in Maryland (Zillow August 31, 2022) | ||
In Maryland, you'll pay about #N/A of your home's final sale price in closing costs, not including realtor fees.
Remember that this figure is only an approximation. Your unique closing costs can vary depending on a wide range of factors. Fortunately, you and your buyer can always negotiate who will pay for certain fees.
For the best outcome, you'll want to work with a realtor who has plenty of negotiation experience under their belt. Clever can help by connecting you with a top realtor in your area who will keep your best interests in mind and make sure you get the most out of your sale.
» MORE: See how Clever can match you with a local expert
Title fees: 0.33%
Title fees cover the costs of your title search and title transfer.
Selling a home requires you to transfer legal ownership of the property to your buyer. Before this can happen, your settlement agent will need to perform a title search to make sure there aren't liens or claims against your property.
Although buyers and sellers in Maryland usually pay for their own closing agents, this isn't always the case. Ask your agent if you don't know which fees you'll need to cover.
Maryland transfer tax: 0.25%
Maryland will charge you about 0.25% of your property's final sale price to transfer the title to the new owner. For a $405,957 house — the median home value in Maryland — you'd pay around $1,015.
However, transfer taxes can vary a lot depending on your home value and location. Some cities charge additional transfer taxes, which buyers and sellers may choose to split evenly or negotiate who should cover all transfer costs.
To find out how much you'll owe in transfer taxes based on your local ordinances, ask your real estate agent.
» FIND: Learn more about transfer taxes in Maryland
Maryland recording fees: $2,066
Your county will charge a small fee to keep a legal record of your property's mortgage and deed information. This fee can vary slightly based on your location, but you can expect to pay around $2,066 in Maryland. You and your buyer can also negotiate who will cover this expense.
Most counties will have recording fees listed on their websites. For instance, Baltimore County states that their recording tax is $2.50 for every $500 of a property's value. In Anne Arundel County, the recording fee is $3.50 for every $500 of a home's value.
If you want to see exactly how much you'll pay in recording fees, check out your county's website.
Buyer incentives: 2%
Sellers can use buyer incentives to encourage more house hunters to submit their offers. A few common incentives can include paying for some of the buyer's closing costs, offering repair credits, or including valuable items — such as new appliances or furniture — in the final sale.
On average, sellers spend around $8,119 on buyer incentives in Maryland.
Don't forget about property taxes!
When you sell a home in Maryland, you'll still have to pay property taxes for the months you owned the property. Using this prorated system, you won't be on the hook for the full 12 months of taxes. However, this does make it more difficult to estimate how much you'll owe at closing.
The average property tax rate in Maryland is #N/A, but this can vary quite a bit depending on your county.
For instance, Baltimore City has the highest property tax rate in the state at 1.72%. Meanwhile, Talbot County residents have the lowest property tax rate at just 0.68%.
Be sure to check with your real estate agent so you can find out exactly you'll need to pay in property taxes
Other Maryland closing costs for sellers
Every home sale in Maryland is unique, so many sellers end up facing a couple surprise fees. You might need to get a property appraisal for your historic Baltimore home, or you may want to retain a real estate attorney to guide you through the sale of your Eastern Shore beach house.
» LEARN: The total cost of selling a house
Regardless of your circumstances, you should prepare for a few unforeseen costs, such as:
- Homeowners Association (HOA) fees
- Mortgage payoff and/or prepayment penalties
- Property appraisal fees
- Settlement or attorney fees
Working with a knowledgeable local realtor is a great way to save when selling your home. An experienced agent will help you avoid surprise fees and provide you with valuable insights about your unique Maryland neighborhood.
Additionally, a top agent will understand local trends and know which features buyers will want the most in their new home. When you use Clever, you'll be paired with a great realtor who will share the insights you'll need to make the most of your sale.
Maryland closing costs calculator
Your total closing costs will vary based on your home's value, local fees, and arrangements with your buyer.
Use this Maryland closing costs calculator to better understand how much money you'll actually take home after closing.
How to save on Maryland closing costs
Although closing costs aren't usually the biggest expense for sellers in Maryland, there are a few ways you may be able to further reduce these expenses.
Shop around for better prices
It's possible for some sellers to save money by shopping around for lower service rates.
However, these costs tend to be fairly low and consistent between different companies. When you're already trying to keep track of inspection, repair, and appraisal fees, researching several agencies to find a $50 discount probably isn't worth your time.
Negotiate for the buyer to pay
If there are more buyers than available homes in your area, you may be able to convince the buyer to cover some of your closing expenses.
Buyers expect fierce competition in hot seller's markets, so they might be willing to compromise if you accept their offer on your Maryland home.
» MORE: How to negotiate with buyers before accepting an offer
Save on realtor fees
The easiest and most effective way to reduce your closing costs is to find an agent who charges lower listing fees. In Maryland, real estate commission costs an average of $20,744 — that's usually more expensive than the rest of your closing costs combined!
Thankfully, there's a way to save big by selling with Clever. With listing fees of just 1.5%, you'll save up to 50% on realtor commission, putting more money in your pocket.
Frequently asked questions
In Maryland, expect to pay about 3.57% of your home’s sale price in closing costs — not including realtor fees. At the median home value of $405,957, this equates to around $14,492 at closing. Learn more about what makes up seller closing costs in Maryland.
Buyers and sellers each pay for different closing costs to finalize a sale. In Maryland, sellers typically pay for title fees, transfer taxes, owner's title insurance expenses, and recording fees at closing. Learn more about who pays closing costs in Maryland.