State guide · MD
Transfer tax in Maryland
Maryland charges roughly 1.50% when a home changes hands — about $6,450 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by split by custom; first-time-buyer share often shifted to seller.
Rate
1.50%
On a median home
$6,450
Customarily paid by
Split
State transfer tax of 0.5% plus county transfer taxes (0.5-1.5%) plus recordation taxes — roughly 1.5% combined in most counties; first-time buyers get a state reduction.
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in Maryland — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our Maryland closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How Maryland compares
| Rank | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #2 | Washington, D.C. | 2.20% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | 2.00% |
| #4 | Maryland | 1.50% |
| #5 | New Hampshire | 1.50% |
| #6 | Vermont | 1.45% |
Common questions
Does Maryland have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. State transfer tax of 0.5% plus county transfer taxes (0.5-1.5%) plus recordation taxes — roughly 1.5% combined in most counties; first-time buyers get a state reduction. On a median-priced Maryland home (about $430,000), that's roughly $6,450.
Who pays the transfer tax in Maryland?
Split by custom; first-time-buyer share often shifted to seller. Like every closing cost, this is custom rather than law — the purchase contract can assign it to either side, and in competitive negotiations it sometimes moves.
Selling in Maryland? See what you'd keep
Sale price minus commissions, payoff, and taxes like this one — the number that actually lands in your account.
Open the net proceeds calculatorRates are representative combined state and typical local figures compiled from public sources and rounded for readability; graduated schedules, exemptions, and city add-ons can change your number. Confirm with your closing agent or county recorder. Median home values are approximate.