Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Compensation for a buyer's agent, if any, is negotiated separately and may be paid by the buyer, the seller, or both. This estimate is for illustration only.
How much will I net selling my house in Baltimore?
Your net is what's left after everything comes out of the sale price at settlement. For most Baltimore sellers, that means:
- Your mortgage payoff, plus any home equity line or other liens.
- Your listing brokerage fee. Whatever you agree to with your listing brokerage. It's negotiable and not set by law.
- Buyer agent compensation, if any. Optional. It's negotiated separately and may be paid by the buyer, the seller, or both.
- Your share of Maryland transfer and recordation taxes. This is the one most people forget, and in Baltimore City it's real money.
- Settlement and title fees, plus prorated property taxes and water bills.
- Prep and repairs: anything you fix before listing or credit back after the home inspection.
Example: a $350,000 sale in Baltimore City
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | $350,000 |
| Mortgage payoff (example) | − $200,000 |
| Seller's half of transfer + recordation taxes (1.5%) | − $5,250 |
| Listing brokerage fee | Your agreed amount |
| Buyer agent compensation, optional | $0 unless you agree to it |
| Estimated net before brokerage fees, settlement fees, prorations and repairs | $144,750 |
Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Compensation for a buyer's agent, if any, is negotiated separately and may be paid by the buyer, the seller, or both. This estimate is for illustration only.
Maryland transfer and recordation taxes: Baltimore City vs. Baltimore County
When a home sells in Maryland, three taxes are due when the deed is recorded: the state transfer tax, the local transfer tax and the recordation tax. By custom they're split 50/50 between buyer and seller, but your contract controls, and first-time buyer exemptions can change who pays what.
| Baltimore City | Baltimore County | |
|---|---|---|
| State transfer tax | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Local transfer tax | 1.5% (2.1% over $1M) | 1.5% |
| Recordation tax | 1.0% (1.15% over $1M) | 0.5% |
| Total | 3.0% (3.75% over $1M) | 2.5% |
| Seller's typical half | about 1.5% | about 1.25% |
On a $400,000 home, the seller's half works out to roughly $6,000 in the City and $5,000 in the County. Selling in Hampden, Roland Park or Lake Evesham costs more in taxes than selling in Towson or Parkville, which is why the calculator above defaults to 1.5%. If you're in the County, change it to 1.25%.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays transfer and recordation taxes when you sell a house in Maryland?
By custom, buyer and seller split them 50/50, but it's negotiable and the sales contract decides. If your buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, exemptions can shift part of the cost, so check your contract.
How much are closing costs for a seller in Baltimore?
Add up your listing brokerage fee, any buyer agent compensation you agree to, your half of transfer and recordation taxes (about 1.5% in the City, 1.25% in the County), settlement and title fees, prorated taxes and water, and any repair credits. I can give you a line-by-line net sheet for your actual home.
Are real estate commissions negotiable?
Yes. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Compensation for a buyer's agent, if any, is negotiated separately and may be paid by the buyer, the seller, or both.
How accurate is this net proceeds calculator?
It's an estimate for illustration, not a settlement statement. Your exact numbers depend on your payoff, your contract terms, prorations and title fees. For a real number, request a net sheet below.
Want your exact number?
I'll put together a line-by-line net sheet for your home: your payoff, the right tax rates for your address, and what buyers are paying on your street right now. No obligation.
Call or text 410-905-6678 or email me. — Mike Fielder, The Key Home Team, Cummings & Co. Realtors