What It Costs to Sell a House in Baltimore City (with a Seller Net Sheet)
Selling in Baltimore City costs more in taxes than selling in Baltimore County, because the City’s recordation tax is twice the county’s. Add commission, settlement fees and any repairs or credits, and the useful question is the same as anywhere: what do you keep? This page walks through every line, using City rates, not the county numbers most guides quote.
Updated November 2026
The line items
| Cost | How it’s figured in Baltimore City | Seller’s share on a $300,000 sale |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer taxes | City 1.5% plus state 0.5%; split 50/50 here, so the seller pays 1% | $3,000 |
| Recordation tax | $5 per $500 of price (1%); split 50/50 here | $1,500 |
| Listing agent’s fee | Negotiable, set in your listing agreement. Example: 3% | $9,000 |
| Buyer’s agent pay | Your choice whether to offer it, and the buyer may ask for it as a credit instead. Example: 3%; $0 if you don’t offer it and the buyer doesn’t ask | $9,000 |
| Brokerage fee | Flat fee charged by the listing brokerage | $495 |
| Certifications | Ordered for settlement | $50 |
| Title and settlement fees | Seller’s settlement fee, deed prep, release of your mortgage | Varies by title company; not in this example |
| Final water bill | The title company typically holds money at settlement until the City’s final water bill is paid | Held from proceeds; any extra comes back to you |
| Property tax proration | Taxes are billed ahead; the buyer credits you for the days after settlement | Credit of about $2,664 (Nov 30 settlement) |
| Repairs or credits | Whatever you agree to after the inspection | Depends on the house |
| What you keep (no mortgage) | Price minus $23,045 in charges, plus the tax credit | About $279,619 |
These numbers come from the seller net sheet I run for clients, for a $300,000 Baltimore City sale with no mortgage and a November 30 settlement. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland buyer, the state transfer tax drops to 0.25% and the seller pays it, which changes the transfer line. All figures are estimates and actual costs will vary. Real estate commissions are fully negotiable and aren’t set by law. To try your own price or percentages, use the calculator below.
City versus county on the same price
| Seller’s share on a $300,000 sale | Baltimore City | Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer taxes (local plus state, split) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Recordation tax (split) | $1,500 | $750 |
| Total taxes, seller’s share | $4,500 | $3,750 |
The difference is the recordation tax: the City charges $5 per $500 of price and the county charges $2.50. Both columns come from my net sheets, which don’t apply the $22,000 owner-occupied transfer tax exclusion that both the City and the county offer (it usually lowers the buyer’s share, not yours). More on the City’s taxes, including sales over $1 million: Baltimore City transfer taxes, explained. Selling in Towson? See the Baltimore County cost page instead.
Run your own numbers
Change the price, your mortgage payoff or either commission percentage. Commissions are fully negotiable and aren’t set by law; the 3% figures are only a starting example.
| Line | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Listing agent’s fee | $9,000 |
| Buyer’s agent pay | $9,000 |
| Transfer taxes (your half, 1%) | $3,000 |
| Recordation tax (your half, 0.5%) | $1,500 |
| Brokerage fee | $495 |
| Certifications | $50 |
| Mortgage payoff | $0 |
| Estimated proceeds before the tax credit and title fees | $276,955 |
All figures are estimates, and actual costs will vary with your contract, your title company and your settlement date. Real estate commissions are fully negotiable and aren’t set by law. This leaves out the property tax credit you usually get back at settlement and your title and settlement fees. Assumes Baltimore City rates with transfer and recordation taxes split 50/50 with the buyer.
Want a net sheet built on your real numbers? Start with a home value estimate and I’ll build yours.
City items to sort out early
- Ground rent. Some City homes still carry ground rent. If yours does, it has to be disclosed to the buyer, Maryland requires it to be registered with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, and the buyer’s lender and title company will want the details early. Find out now, not at settlement.
- Water bill. Expect the title company to escrow for the final water bill. Pull your latest bill so there are no surprises.
- Older systems. Rowhouses from the 1900s to the 1950s often have old wiring, cast-iron drains and slate or flat roofs. Knowing what a buyer’s inspector will find helps you price repairs before they become credits.
What I bring to this
I live in Lake Evesham and serve as Vice President of the Lake Evesham Community Association. I’ve managed rentals since 2014, so I know what repairs cost and which ones buyers pay back. Here’s how I sell homes, and my Baltimore neighborhood guide.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to sell a house in Baltimore City?
On a $300,000 sale with a 3% listing fee and 3% buyer’s agent pay (both negotiable), a seller’s charges run about $23,045, or roughly 7.7% of the price, before repairs, and you get a property tax credit back at settlement. About $4,500 of that is your share of the City and state transfer and recordation taxes when they’re split with the buyer.
What is the Baltimore City recordation tax?
$5 for every $500 of the price, which is 1%. Baltimore County charges half that.
Who pays transfer tax in Baltimore City?
It’s negotiable, and splitting it with the buyer is common. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland buyer, the state rate drops to 0.25% and the seller pays it.
Do I have to pay my final water bill before settlement?
The title company usually holds money from your proceeds until the City’s final bill is paid, then sends you any balance.
About Mike Fielder
Mike Fielder is a Baltimore Realtor and Sales Director of The Key Home Team at Cummings & Co. Realtors. Licensed since June 2016, he focuses on North Baltimore (Lake Evesham, Lake Walker, Cedarcroft, Hampden and Remington) and the Towson area. He works with buyers and sellers throughout Maryland and in parts of Pennsylvania, where he’s also licensed. He also serves as Vice President of the Lake Evesham Community Association.
Over his career, Mike has sold 190 homes worth more than $56 million. He’s backed by The Key Home Team, which has sold more than $375 million in real estate and closes about $30 million a year.
Mike founded Property Management of Baltimore in 2014, two years before getting his license, and still runs it. Managing rentals taught him what repairs really cost, which updates buyers pay for, and how to keep a deal moving when something breaks. Sellers get that judgment when deciding what to fix before listing. Buyers get it when they’re reading an inspection report.
A Towson University graduate, Mike keeps his approach simple: price from real recent sales, spend money only where it pays back, and compare offers by what the client actually keeps.
More from Mike: Selling with Mike · Neighborhood guide · Full bio
Want the real number for your house?
Get your home value, and I’ll turn it into a net sheet that shows what you’d keep. Or call me at 410-905-6678.
The Key Home Team of Cummings & Co. Realtors
Cell: 410-905-6678
Email: [email protected]
Office: 410-823-0033
222 W Cold Spring Ln, Suite C, Baltimore, MD 21210
Website: mikesellsbaltimore.com