One of the original U.S. colonies, with its scenic landscapes — from the charming Chesapeake Bay to the impressive Appalachian Mountains — and close proximity to the national capital, Maryland is an attractive state for settling down in.
According to Zillow data, the current median home value in Maryland is $387,872. Home values have risen about 3.03% over the past year.
If you're buying or selling a house, finding the right assistance could be overwhelming. Luckily, Maryland has over 27,000 realtors and several real estate companies to choose from.
Our team of experts has found the top real estate companies in Maryland to help you find the best professional for your situation:
Best for saving money: Discount brokers
Discount brokers are an excellent choice if you want to save money and still work with a realtor. Home sellers are charged lower commissions, and home buyers get cash back or credits at closing.
Clever Real Estate is our top pick in Maryland: with a listing fee of just 1.5%, you'll save the most money while still getting full-service support from a real estate professional.
Warning
At some discount brokerages, agents have to service a larger number of clients, which can affect their level of personal service.
Other services, like Clever Real Estate, can match you with a full-service agent and help you save money by pre-negotiating lower fees.
Clever Real Estate
Get Started💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. $3,000)
💰 Avg. Savings
$5,625
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.9/5 (1,995 reviews)
Clever is a quick, easy, and free way to find a top-rated local agent. And, unlike many similar companies, Clever pre-negotiates big discounts on your behalf, so you can save thousands without sacrificing on service.
- Clever offers a free, nationwide agent-matching service that partners with full-service local agents from conventional brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX.
- You get multiple agent matches so you can interview, compare marketing plans, and choose the best fit.
- Clever pre-negotiates low rates on your behalf — you get full service for a low 1.5% listing fee.
- If you buy with Clever, you could get cash back after closing.
- You may not get matched with an agent from your preferred real estate brokerage.
- Agents may not provide premium services like drone photography and professional home staging.
Clever has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, based on 1,844 reviews.
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates with top agents in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Redfin
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1.5% (min. fees vary)
💰 Avg. Savings
$5,550
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
3.7/5 (301 reviews)
Redfin offers real savings and is a proven brand. But sellers could compromise on service — especially agent experience and availability.
- If you buy and sell with Redfin, you'll get a 0.5% listing fee discount.
- Redfin gives its listings premium placement in its popular home search app.
- If finding the right agent is a top priority, you'll have limited options — Redfin only has a few agents in each of its markets.
- Redfin agents handle more customers at once than the average realtor, so they may not be able to provide as much personalized service.
Redfin has a 3.7 out of 5 rating (301 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Yelp.
Redfin is available in 80+ U.S. markets (see all locations).
Ideal Agent
💲 Listing Fee
2% ($3k minimum fee)
💰 Buyer Savings
None
⚡ Avg. Customer Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ideal Agent can match you with a local realtor who sells a lot of homes. But although it pre-negotiates discounted listing fees, you can save twice as much with competitors like Clever.
- Agents in network must meet strict quality standards
- Pre-negotiated listing fees of 2% (or $3k for homes under $150,000)
- 2% listing fee is less than the national average, but it's not the best rate out there
- No built-in savings for buyers
- Only matches you with a single agent
As of 10/21/2022, Ideal Agent has an average customer rating of 4.9, based on 5,842 reviews across Google and Trustpilot.
Houwzer
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1% (min. $2,500)
💰 Avg. Savings
$7,625
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.8/5 (1,400 reviews)
Houwzer has very low listing fees, but you may be frustrated working with a team instead of just your realtor.
- You’ll pay a 1% listing fee, which is one of the lowest rates in the industry.
- Houwzer’s maximum listing fee of $10,000 makes it a great deal for homes over $1 million.
- Houwzer has a small team, which limits your options if you don't hit it off with the first agent it sends you.
- The company uses a team-based approach, which increases the chances of miscommunication and mistakes.
Houwzer has a 4.8 out of 5 rating (1,400 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
Houwzer is available in the following locations: FL, MD, NJ, PA, VA, DC.
REX Real Estate
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
2.5% ($9,000 min.)
💰 Avg. Savings
-$325
⭐ Avg. Customer Rating
4.7/5 (1,041 reviews)
REX’s promise of huge savings is misleading. Its advertising misrepresents the significant risks of its pricing model and marketing approach. And its high minimum fees mean that many sellers won't save anything.
- REX's approach is incredibly risky — but if the gamble pays off, you could save about 50% on realtor fees
- Like other full-service brokerages, REX agents provide in-person services and support
- REX's 2.5% listing fee doesn't save you much — many full-price agents charge similar rates
- REX doesn't list your home on the MLS, so up to 90% of buyers may not even know it's for sale
- This risky marketing strategy seems likely to fail, so you may not save anything on commission
REX has a 4.7 out of 5 rating (1,041 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Zillow.
REX is available in the following areas: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, NV, NJ, OR, PA, TX, WA, DC.
Best for a fast sale: iBuyers and cash buyers
In Maryland, the median selling time for a home is 52 days, but if you need to sell your home quickly (in two weeks or less!), there are companies in Maryland that will make a cash offer and close on your timeline.
If your home is in good condition and requires few repairs, iBuyers (companies like RedfinNow) pay close to what you'd get on the open market. You won't have to deal with preparing, listing, and marketing your home. Some may even give you the option to move out AFTER closing.
» COMPARE: The Best 6 iBuyer Companies Ranked & Reviewed
But if you're trying to sell a distressed property, you would do better working with a cash buyer. In Maryland, these companies include Express Homebuyers, Market Pro, and I Buy Houses.
To make a profit in Maryland, cash buyers make offers between 50% and 70% of fair market value. On a $250,000 home, you could forfeit around $75,000.
» COMPARE: 5 We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Maryland
RedfinNow (No longer available)
Full ReviewService Fee
5–13%
Closing Date Window
10–30 days
Average Rating
Not available
In November, 2022, Redfin announced that its home-buying service, RedfinNow, would be shut down. If you're still looking for an iBuyer, check out our list of top iBuyers.
Pros
- Expanded presence in cities across California, including several not served by other iBuyers
- Large and trusted corporate brand
- Older homes (built after 1930) are eligible in select cities
Cons
- Relatively expensive services fees (up to 13% of the offer price)
- Relatively limited flexibility on closing window, compared to competitors
RedfinNow is currently purchasing homes in 31 locations, including
- AZ: Phoenix
- CA: Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County, Palm Springs, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco
- CO: Denver
- TX: Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio
- WA: Seattle
As of 10/21/2022, RedfinNow's weighted average is 2.5 based on 7 reviews.
- Trustpilot: 2.5 | {ibuyers.redfinnow.trustpilot_count} reviews
- Website: www.redfin.com/
- Phone: (951) 229-0511
- Email: redfinnow@redfin.com
Express Homebuyers
WebsitePhone Number
877-804-5252
Time to Offer
7 minutes
Time to Sale
7 days
Express Homebuyers is really fast: it provides offers in just minutes and can close in just a week in many circumstances. Plus, the company has mostly positive reviews on Google.
Express Homebuyers is a national service that has partnered with local investors across the country to buy houses for cash.
Steps to sell with Express Homebuyers:
- Submit your home's information to receive an initial "as is" offer
- Meet with the local investor to assess your property and answer any questions
- Discuss the local investor's final cash offer and, if you're willing to sell, sign a sales agreement then and there
- Choose a closing day on your schedule
- Show up on the day of the sale to sign the paperwork and receive cash within hours
Express Homebuyers has partnered with local investors in the following states:
Express Home Buyers received an average of 3.7 stars from 261 customer reviews. It's accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and it has a B+ rating.
Google: 4.2 stars/122 reviews
Facebook: 4.6 stars/113 reviews
Yelp: 2.5 stars/26 reviews
MarketPro Homebuyers
Full reviewTime to offer
Less than 10 days
Minimum closing time
7 days
Closing costs
No cost for seller
MarketPro pays significantly less than fair market value. It's available in only four states, so it's not an option for many home sellers. But it can close quickly and even offer a free moving service, so it might be worth it if you're relocating.
Pros
- Free moving assistance
- Close in just seven days
- No need to prep or repair home
Cons
- Pays less than fair market value
- Available in only a handful of markets
MarketPro Homebuyers operates in 22 counties across FL, MD, PA, VA, and Washington, DC.
As of October 2022, MarketPro Homebuyers has an average rating of 4.3/5 stars based on 400+ reviews.
Positive reviews note an easy transaction process and professional service. But customers also mention negative aspects, including unreliable communication and aggressive marketing tactics.
- Website: marketprohomebuyers.com
- Phone: (301) 994-7355
Orchard
Full ReviewService fee
Typically 6%
Closing date window
14–60 days
Average rating
4.6/5 (97 reviews)
Orchard is a home trade-in service that allows you to purchase a new home by getting access to your current home's equity. You can then list your old home on the market with an Orchard listing agent.
If you need to move quickly but still want top dollar for your home, Orchard is worth considering. However, Orchard only accepts newer homes.
Pros
- You can use Orchard's Offer Boost program to make a cash offer on a new home.
- If your home doesn't sell in 120 days, you can accept Orchard's guaranteed cash offer.
Cons
- Homes must be relatively new compared to what competitors accept (built after 1972 vs. 1930–1960).
- Orchard's cash offers will likely be much lower than what you could sell for on the open market.
Orchard is currently operating in these locations:
- CO: Denver
- GA: Atlanta
- TX: Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio
As of 10/21/2022, Orchard's average customer rating is 4.8/5 based on 1,184 reviews.
- Trustpilot: {ibuyers.orchard.trustpilot_rating}/5 ({ibuyers.orchard.trustpilot_count} reviews)
- Better Business Bureau: {ibuyers.orchard.bbb_rating}/5 (14 reviews)
- Website: orchard.com
- Phone: (844) 515-9880
- Email: hello@orchard.com
I Buy Houses
Full reviewTime to offer
Varies
Minimum closing time
Varies
Closing costs
Varies
I Buy Houses connects home sellers with a network of subscribers who are independent real estate investors. These investors aren't vetted in any way, so it's impossible to know what level of service you'll receive, and negotiating will be entirely up to you. In fact, there's no guarantee that anyone will even contact you when you submit your information.
Pros
- You get access to a national network of real estate investors.
- The online submission form is easy to fill out.
Cons
- There's no vetting process — anyone can sign up as an "investor."
- There aren't standards for how transactions are conducted.
- You have no guarantee that anyone will contact you or that you'll get an offer.
I Buy Houses is available in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
No customer reviews are available.
- Website: ibuyhouses.com
- Phone: (607) 527-6097
Best for finding top agents: Agent-matching services
If you want to work with a professional, agent-matching services can help you find top local realtors.
Some agent-matching services let you interview several agents from well-known brokerages (like Century 21 and Keller Williams) until you find one that you feel comfortable with. Others (like Clever and Upnest) also charge a reduced commission.
To get the most savings AND a full-service agent, Clever is our top pick in Maryland. You'll pay just 1.5%.
Clever Real Estate
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
1.5%
💰 Buyer Savings
Up to $500 cash back
⚡ Avg. Customer Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Clever is a quick, easy, and free way to find a top-rated local agent. And, unlike many similar companies, Clever pre-negotiates big discounts on your behalf, so you can save thousands without sacrificing on service.
Learn how Clever helps you find the perfect agent and save thousands
- Free, nationwide agent-matching service that partners with full-service local agents from conventional brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX
- Provides multiple agent matches so you can interview, compare marketing plans, and choose the best fit
- Pre-negotiates low rates on your behalf — you get full service for 1.5% with a $3,000 minimum
- If you buy with Clever, you may get up to $500 cash back if you qualify
- You may not get matched with an agent from your preferred real estate brokerage.
- Like other agent matching services, Clever may have fewer agents in rural areas.
- Agents may not provide premium services like drone photography and professional home staging.
As of 10/21/2022, Clever has an average customer rating of 4.9 on Trustpilot, based on 1,844 reviews.
UpNest
💲 Listing Fee
Varies
💰 Buyer Savings
Varies
⚡ Avg. Customer Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
UpNest has agents compete for your business, which often results in you getting a discounted rate. But savings aren't guaranteed and you will usually find a better rate with competitors like Clever.
- Agents compete for customers, which often results in slightly discounted rates
- Customer dashboard is easy to use and provides lots of each information about each agent
- Savings are not guaranteed and are often only a little better than the national average
- Agent quality and coverage varies, with smaller markets having fewer options than big cities
As of 10/21/2022, UpNest has an average customer rating of 4.6, based on 5,093 reviews across Better Business Bureau, Google, Facebook, and Shopper Approved.
Ideal Agent
💲 Listing Fee
2% ($3k minimum fee)
💰 Buyer Savings
None
⚡ Avg. Customer Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ideal Agent can match you with a local realtor who sells a lot of homes. But although it pre-negotiates discounted listing fees, you can save twice as much with competitors like Clever.
- Agents in network must meet strict quality standards
- Pre-negotiated listing fees of 2% (or $3k for homes under $150,000)
- 2% listing fee is less than the national average, but it's not the best rate out there
- No built-in savings for buyers
- Only matches you with a single agent
As of 10/21/2022, Ideal Agent has an average customer rating of 4.9, based on 5,842 reviews across Google and Trustpilot.
HomeLight
Full Review💲 Listing Fee
Standard rate (2.5-3%)
💰 Buyer Savings
None
⚡ Avg. Customer Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
HomeLight is an excellent tool for finding a great local agent quickly. However, it offers zero built-in commission savings for sellers or buyers.
- Get a list of local real estate agents in as little as two minutes
- One of the largest agent networks in the industry makes it less challenging to find an agent who specializes in short sales and other non-traditional sales
- Optional Trade-In program makes it easier to buy a new house if you need to sell your current one first
- No built-in savings for home sellers or buyers
- No minimum qualifications for partner agents, so quality may vary between locations
As of 10/21/2022, HomeLight has an average customer rating of 4.5 across 642 reviews on Google, Sitejabber, and the Better Business Bureau.
Best by transaction volume
A more objective metric of the a real estate company's performance is its transaction volume: the total dollar value of all its deals.
Transaction volume won't tell you which company offers the best customer experience in the state — just who's earning the most business.
Below are some of the top real estate teams in Maryland based on total transaction volume and team size (small, medium, or large).
🏆 Best small teams
Team | Brokerage | City | Transaction volume (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
Gregory Kinnear | RE/MAX Advantage Realty | Ellicott City | $118,775,400 |
Pennye Green Team | Long & Foster Real Estate | Bethesda | $85,093,806 |
Gail Nyman Group | RE/MAX United Real Estate | Upper Marlboro | $78,190,439 |
The Kilner Group | RLAH Real Estate | Potomac | $75,269,185 |
Murtagh Properties | Long & Foster Real Estate | Bethesda | $67,716,998 |
Source: RealTrends | |||
🏆 Best medium teams
Team | Brokerage | City | Transaction volume (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
The Banner Team | Long & Foster Real Estate | Bethesda | $157,179,001 |
Dana Rice Group | Compass | Bethesda | $146,854,791 |
Eric Stewart Group | Long & Foster Real Estate | Rockville | $116,892,113 |
Laura Snyder Home Group | Keller Williams American Premier Realty | Bel Air | $111,856,500 |
Heller Coley Reed Team | Long & Foster Real Estate | Bethesda | $109,832,775 |
Source: RealTrends | |||
🏆 Best large teams
Team | Brokerage | City | Transaction volume (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
Nurit Coombe & Alex Martinez Team | The Agency DC | Rockville | $254,483,215 |
The W Home Group | Next Step Realty | Timonium | $193,380,950 |
The Maryland & Delaware Group of Long & Foster | Long & Foster Real Estate | Salisbury | $186,611,142 |
The Sky Group | Long & Foster Real Estate | Bethesda | $173,476,382 |
Pakulla Professionals | RE/MAX Advantage Realty | Ellicott City | $165,843,888 |
Source: RealTrends | |||
Fast facts about real estate in Maryland
🏠 Average home sale price (March 2023) | $387,900 |
💰 Average realtor commission | 5.11% |
🕑 Average days on market | 39 |
FAQs about the best real estate companies in Maryland
If you need to sell your house quickly, one of the best solutions in Maryland is to work with an iBuyer like RedfinNow. If you want to go the traditional route, agent-matching services like Clever Real Estate and UpNest let you list with an agent but still save money.
According to RealTrends, based on how much business they generate, one of the largest real estate teams in Maryland is Nurit Coombe & Alex Martinez Team (The Agency DC), in Rockville, Maryland.
Methodology
Our Maryland real estate company categories and rankings are based on hundreds of hours of collective research by Clever's editorial team. Our research included:
- Interviews with local real estate agents
- Mystery shopping of real estate companies to learn more about how their services work
- Comparing each company based on categories like fees, overall customer satisfaction, and additional services
Transaction volume data for brokerages in Maryland was sourced from RealTrends' state rankings.