Category: Home Selling
If your house has been sitting on the market in Southern Maryland and offers are not coming, there is always a reason. In 14 years working this market, I have seen hundreds of listings stall. It is almost always one of three things: price, condition, or marketing. Here is how to figure out which one…
If you’ve been thinking about real estate investing in Southern Maryland, you’re not alone. I get calls about this every month. Buyers who want to know if the market is worth it, investors eyeing rentals near Pax River, people who inherited a property and wonder whether to hold it. I’ve been investing here for over…
The Maryland housing market in 2026 is one of the most common things people are searching for right now, and for good reason. After years of historically low inventory and rate-driven volatility, the market has shifted into a more balanced phase. If you’re asking whether 2026 is a good time to buy or sell in…
If you’re looking for first-time home buyer programs in Maryland, you’re in the right place. Maryland has some of the strongest buyer assistance programs in the country, and most Southern Maryland buyers qualify for at least one program that reduces your down payment, lowers your interest rate, or both. Maryland has some of the strongest…
If you’re selling a home in Southern Maryland, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: how much does a realtor charge in Maryland? The honest answer: there’s no fixed rate. Maryland law sets no standard commission, but the typical total runs around 5.41% of the sale price, split between your listing agent and the…
The question comes up at almost every listing appointment: “Am I going to owe capital gains tax when I sell?” For most Southern Maryland homeowners, the answer is no. The rules around capital gains tax on home sale in Maryland are set up so that ordinary homeowners rarely pay anything. But for sellers who have…
Updated July 2026 · Written by James Armel, licensed Maryland Realtor (License #676208) and born-and-raised Southern Maryland local August in Southern Maryland means late-summer heat, waterfront breezes, and a packed calendar before the back-to-school season kicks in. Whether you are heading to Solomons for a big-name concert, catching a free Friday night show in La…
Updated July 2026 · Written by James Armel, licensed Maryland Realtor (License #676208) and active investor in Southern Maryland In Maryland, sellers pay two types of taxes at closing that most people don’t fully understand until they’re sitting at the settlement table: transfer taxes and recordation taxes. The amounts vary significantly by county — and…
Should you sell your Southern Maryland home as-is or make repairs first? James Armel — licensed agent and active investor — breaks down which repairs actually pay off, who buys as-is homes in Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s County, and how to calculate which option nets you more.
Updated June 2026 · Written by James Armel, licensed Maryland Realtor (License #676208) The cost of selling a house in Maryland typically runs about 3% to 4% of your sale price in closing costs—before agent commission—covering transfer and recordation taxes, title and settlement fees, and recording fees. The good news for Southern Maryland sellers: this…
