All articles about Maryland First-Time Home Buyer Guide.
Comparing a Maryland-specific home buying guide against Zillow calculators, DHCD websites, agent blogs, and Reddit threads for first-time buyers navigating county-level closing costs.
The Maryland first-time buyer state transfer tax exemption shifts who pays at closing. Here's the exact statutory rule, county-by-county rates, and the Prince George's mortgage trap.
Maryland's SmartBuy 3.0 pays off up to $25,000 in student loans at closing — but requires a 720 credit score and full balance elimination. The best guide explains the math most loan officers skip.
Prince George's County's Pathway to Purchase offers up to $50,000 in down payment assistance, but has strict income caps and a dual-mortgage tax you need to budget for.
Side-by-side comparison of closing costs, transfer taxes, first-time buyer programs, and commute tradeoffs for buyers shopping across Maryland, Virginia, and DC.
Maryland requires attorney supervision for all deed and mortgage preparation. Here's what that means for your closing and how the title search process works.
What first-time buyers need to know before buying a condo in Maryland — HOA review requirements, FHA condo approval, appraisal rules, and condo vs. house trade-offs.
A complete Maryland home buying checklist for first-time buyers — programs, timelines, attorney requirements, and county-specific traps to avoid.
Out-of-state buyers relocating to Maryland face attorney-settlement requirements, county-level closing cost variation, ground rent, and transfer tax structures that don't exist in most other states.
Affordable Maryland counties and neighborhoods for first-time buyers, ranked by price, commute, assistance program access, and what each submarket is actually like.
The best Maryland home buying guide for military families covers VA loan stacking with MMP grants, ground rent restrictions, and base-specific commute realities at Fort Meade, Andrews, and Aberdeen.
Zillow's closing cost calculator uses state-average percentages that miss Maryland's county-specific transfer taxes, tiered recordation rates, and first-time buyer exemptions. Here are alternatives that work.
How VA loans work in Maryland — ground rent redemption requirements, closing cost assistance stacking, and buying near Fort Meade with zero out-of-pocket costs.
PG County's $50,000 Pathway to Purchase grant, the transfer tax trap on FHA and VA loans, and everything a first-time buyer needs to know before closing.
From the Maryland Mortgage Program to SmartBuy 3.0 and county grants, here's every first-time buyer assistance program in Maryland and who qualifies for each.
Maryland property tax rates by county, the Homestead Tax Credit cap that protects long-term owners, and how to estimate your first-year property tax bill as a new buyer.
Maryland Mortgage Program income limits for Frederick County, no county transfer tax advantage, MMP eligibility, and how to buy your first home in Frederick County MD.
Baltimore City offers some of the most aggressive homeownership incentives in the state. Here's every program available in 2026, what you get, and how to qualify.
How Maryland first-time buyers combine MMP, county DPA, VA loans, and seller concessions to minimize cash-to-close — including the military stacking strategy.
Montgomery County's tiered recordation tax, $100,000 exemption, HOC assistance programs, and income limits up to $229,460 — all the local detail national guides skip.
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area rules, 15% lot coverage limits, 100-foot buffers, and the permit requirements that blindside waterfront buyers in Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties.
Which Maryland counties and towns qualify for USDA zero-down financing in 2026, income limits by county, and how rural home buying works in western Maryland and the Eastern Shore.
What Maryland's mandatory homebuyer education requirement covers, which courses count for MMP and SmartBuy eligibility, and how to find a HUD-approved housing counselor.
Eastern Shore Maryland offers lower prices and waterfront access, but Critical Area restrictions, ground rent, and USDA loan nuances make buying here different from anywhere else in the state.
What Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Act means for buyers — the 1,000-foot zone, 15% lot coverage limit, 100-foot buffer, and what you can't build.
Why Maryland requires an attorney at settlement, what the settlement attorney does, who pays, and how the title and escrow rules protect your earnest money.
Maryland's Homestead Tax Credit caps property tax increases on your primary residence. Here's how it works, who qualifies, and why applying early matters.
Maryland's home inspection contingency process has specific timelines, lead paint rules, and property-specific risks. Here's what first-time buyers need to inspect and when.
From offer to keys in Maryland: the real closing timeline, what drives delays, and how attorney-settlement rules affect every step.
Maryland's down payment assistance programs range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on county and income. Here's the full breakdown of what's available in 2026.
Maryland SmartBuy 3.0 pays up to $25,000 of your student loans at closing. Here's who qualifies, what the 720 credit score requirement means, and the full-payoff rule.
The Maryland Mortgage Program offers 30-year fixed rates plus down payment assistance. Here's exactly who qualifies, what the 2026 income limits are, and how to stack grants.
Complete guide to Maryland DHCD first-time buyer programs in 2026 — MMP income limits, SmartBuy 3.0 student loan payoff, FHA loan stacking, and how to apply.
Maryland closing costs typically run 3–5% of the purchase price, but vary significantly by county. Here's what first-time buyers actually pay and how to reduce the total.