Provisional grade — derived from this report's measured data points; the county detector suite has not measured this geography yet. The measured ARED Score replaces it on the suite's next run.
Maryland
Maryland's residential housing market is grappling with a pronounced rate lock-in effect, causing active listings and new seller additions to remain constrained while median prices hold near $430,000. Sales volume has fallen double digits year-over-year as affordability hurdles sideline middle-income and first-time buyers. Meanwhile, structural underbuilding and net outmigration continue to tighten market fundamentals at entry price tiers.
None — no population center in this class.
Median prices moved up 1.7% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 55 days on market with 0.1 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
1% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 3.73% of asking — demand is holding steady.
unemployment 3.9% · poverty 10.1% — a stable, low-distress profile.
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this state — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident. Federal enforcement activity is presented only at the state tier as regional context — never imputed onto any county, city, ZIP, neighborhood or parcel beneath it.
Deterministic aggregate of 24 researched counties — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.
Maryland — researched statewide history with a deterministic 1 / 3 / 5-year projection
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
highest heat scores
lowest heat scores
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this state — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
The country's largest estuary offers world-class sailing, boating, crabbing, and waterfront dining, anchored by the historic colonial capital of Annapolis and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Maryland's premier Atlantic coastal resort features 10 miles of public beaches, a famous 3-mile historic boardwalk, amusement piers, and major fishing tournaments that draw millions annually.
Situated in Garrett County, Maryland's largest freshwater lake spans 3,900 acres and offers four-season recreation, including alpine skiing, whitewater rafting, boating, and mountain retreats.
A barrier island renowned for its pristine maritime beaches, coastal dunes, and herds of wild horses, serving as a primary regional destination for eco-tourism and coastal camping.
The heart of Baltimore's downtown sports district, hosting MLB's Baltimore Orioles and the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, widely celebrated as pioneer ballparks and urban entertainment centers.
Maryland's overall violent and property crime rates remain slightly above national averages, driven largely by elevated concentrations in select urban centers like Baltimore City, while suburban counties like Montgomery, Howard, and Frederick report crime well below national levels. Statewide violent offenses have seen moderate declines over recent reporting periods, though auto thefts have exhibited post-pandemic spikes.
Maryland consistently ranks among the top tier nationally for public K-12 education, anchored by premier suburban school systems such as Howard County, Montgomery County, and Frederick County public schools. Substantial state funding via the Blueprint for Maryland's Future is driving broad educational investments, though performance disparities persist between affluent suburban systems and higher-need urban/rural districts.
Maryland faces notable coastal and tidewater flood exposure across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Ocean City, and low-lying Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland zones, alongside riverine flash flooding along the Patapsco and Potomac basins. While wildfire risk is minimal, severe convective storms, nor'easters, and hurricane remnants drive insurance costs, leading to tightening coastal underwriting and higher premiums.
The state economy is heavily anchored by the federal government, aerospace and defense contractors, life sciences along the I-270 technology corridor, and logistics hubs around Baltimore and Hagerstown. High regulatory hurdles, development excise taxes, and forest conservation rules constrain new home construction, creating an estimated 100,000-unit housing shortage despite sustained infrastructure projects.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. Federal (United States (federal)) — Federal General Tax Lien Encumbrance: Under IRC § 6321, a statutory lien arises automatically as of the date of assessment and attaches to all real property owned or acquired by the taxpayer. Upon the IRS filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) in local county land records under IRC § 6323, it perfects priority against subsequent pur Federal (United States (federal)) — Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) Tax Withholding: Imposes an absolute statutory obligation on the transferee/buyer to withhold gross tax from the total amount realized (purchase price) upon disposition and remit it to the IRS within 20 days using Forms 8288 and 8288-A. Rate structure and formula: Base statutory withholding rate is 15% of the gross
Maryland possesses a resilient high-income economy driven by federal agencies, defense, cyber/IT, life sciences, and port logistics. However, state fiscal reviews highlight slow private-sector job formation and outmigration to lower-cost southeastern states as persistent economic headwinds.
Maryland's primary transportation backbone includes the I-95, I-270, and I-495 Capital Beltway corridors, supported by commuter transit networks including MARC Train, Washington Metro, MTA light rail, and the Purple Line light rail project currently under construction in the D.C. suburbs.
State and local planning is focused on transit-oriented development and regulatory streamlining via initiatives like the 2024 Housing Expansion and Affordable Housing Package, attempting to reduce barriers that currently cap annual housing permits well below historical demand.
Property taxes are primarily assessed and collected at the county level and incorporated municipality level, with specialized service taxing districts (such as commercial improvement districts or tax increment financing districts) utilized in select jurisdictions rather than broad utility MUDs.
Maryland's property insurance market is stable relative to Gulf and Florida markets, though coastal and tidewater counties face rising premiums and stricter underwriting standards for flood and wind peril.
Maryland has registered consecutive annual net losses in domestic migration, losing over 97,000 net residents to other states between 2022 and 2024 (primarily to Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas) according to the Comptroller of Maryland, driven largely by housing affordability pressures.
Maryland conducts foreclosures primarily through a quasi-judicial process initiated by an Order to Docket filed in Circuit Court. Lenders must issue a Notice of Intent to Foreclose at least 45 days prior to filing and offer mediation, with no statutory post-sale right of redemption once the sale is ratified.
Maryland law requires residential sellers to deliver either a formal Maryland Residential Property Disclosure Statement detailing known material defects or a Disclaimer Statement selling the property 'as is' with disclosure of only latent defects not readily observable.
Retrieved from U.S. Census Bureau ACS state profile DP04/DP05 and State of Maryland Comptroller published economic indicators.
Maryland's residential housing market is grappling with a pronounced rate lock-in effect, causing active listings and new seller additions to remain constrained while median prices hold near $430,000. Sales volume has fallen double digits year-over-year as affordability hurdles sideline middle-income and first-time buyers. Meanwhile, structural underbuilding and net outmigration continue to tighten market fundamentals at entry price tiers.
Forecasts are for speculation only and should not be used as a deciding factor in any transaction. Projections trend strictly from calculable historical values — the platform cannot predict market movements, market sentiment, or the market itself.
Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).
Projection: trailing 3-yr pace of +12.0%/yr — long-run pace is -11.4%/yr; recent momentum points the other way · est., not a measured read
Projection: trailing 3-yr pace of +12.0%/yr — long-run pace is -11.4%/yr; recent momentum points the other way · est., not a measured read
Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).
Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).
Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).
Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).
Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).
Standard trend model — solid = measured history · dashed = projection anchored at each line's last measured point, following that series' trailing pace (CAGR capped ±12%/yr) or trailing mean · projections are estimates, not measured reads · every charted series runs the standard 5-year historical window with a 1-year forecast, trimmed from the full retained ledger — the forecast always extends into the future year (a lagging ledger bridges to it) and stops there on purpose: authoritative, not wizardry · every price line is county-assessed value from the district CAD — the tier's same-parcel assessment roll-up on the momentum tile, the assessed trajectory in raw dollar levels and as a YoY-chained index (base 100), and the month-over-month pace from nearby comparable sales pooled from the research track; a tier without comps yet keeps its pace story with the assessed trend. Inventory, liquidity, price-cut and foreclosure lines run on the platform's own measured series.
No recorded foreclosure notices for Maryland yet. Counties ingest on the scheduled rotation — absence here reads as no recorded notices, not as verified zero distress.
applies when — The parcel is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as identified by FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps and the loan is secured by a federally regulated or backed lending institution.
Requires the property owner to maintain flood insurance coverage for the duration of the loan. Failure to maintain coverage allows the lender to force-place insurance at the borrower's expense.
Governed by the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (FDPA) and the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.
applies when — Parcel encumbered by a mortgage or occupied by a residential tenant where the mortgagor or lessee entered active-duty military service.
Stays non-judicial foreclosure proceedings, property seizure, and eviction for parcels owned or leased by qualifying servicemembers. Foreclosure or distress sales initiated during military service or within one year after service are strictly invalid and void unless conducted pursuant to a valid court order or an express written waiver executed during or after military service.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-189; 50 U.S.C. § 3953 and 50 U.S.C. § 3955), originally enacted as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940; amended by the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.
applies when — Parcel where the federal government (EPA) has incurred response costs for cleanup or remediation of hazardous substance releases, and the parcel owner was provided written notice of potential liability.
Establishes a statutory federal lien upon the parcel running in favor of the United States for all unrecovered cleanup costs, damages, and statutory interest incurred by the EPA. Rate and formula: Direct Dollar-for-Dollar Reimbursement (Lien Amount = Incurred Response Costs + Administrative Costs + Statutory Interest under 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)). Exemptions: Bona Fide Prospective Purchasers (BFPP) and Innocent Landowners under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act are exempt from personal liability if they perform All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI Phase I ESA) prior to purchase and comply with ongoing continuing obligations, though a 'windfall lien' may still attach to the parcel up to the unearned increase in fair market value attributable to the response action.
CERCLA of 1980, Section 107(l) (42 U.S.C. § 9607(l)) and Section 107(r) (Windfall Liens), as amended by SARA (1986) and the Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002.
applies when — Parcel contains designated critical habitat or supports listed threatened or endangered animal species under the Endangered Species Act.
Makes it unlawful to 'take' listed species (including significant habitat modification or degradation that impairs breeding, feeding, or sheltering). Precludes parcel clearing, tree removal, earthmoving, or construction unless the property owner prepares an approved Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and secures an Incidental Take Permit under Section 10(a) or receives Section 7 interagency consultation clearance.
Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1538-1539; 50 CFR Parts 17 and 222.
applies when — Parcel contains a historic property listed on, or eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places, subject to an undertaking involving federal permits, licenses, funding, or loan guarantees (e.g., HUD, USDA, or USACE approvals).
Mandates federal agencies to evaluate the effect of the proposed residential undertaking on historic properties and consult with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO). Restricts structural alterations, ground disturbance, demolition, or aesthetic elevations that cause adverse effects, often requiring formal Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and mitigation measures.
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, recodified at 54 U.S.C. § 306108; implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800.
applies when — Parcel contains delineated 'waters of the United States' (WOTUS), including jurisdictional wetlands, streams, or navigable waterways.
Prohibits the discharge of dredged or fill material into jurisdictional waters on the parcel without an individual or nationwide permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Restricts residential site grading, bulkheading, retention pond construction, or development footprints, and may require expensive compensatory mitigation or off-site wetland credits to disturb designated acreage.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Clean Water Act), 33 U.S.C. § 1344; joint regulations at 33 CFR Parts 320-332 and 40 CFR Part 230.
applies when — Parcel securing a residential loan guaranteed under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan program.
Imposes mandatory VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) ensuring the residential dwelling is safe, structurally sound, and sanitary. Mandates specific parcel covenants, including permanent year-round vehicular access, dedicated continuous utilities, separation from environmental/industrial hazards (such as high-voltage lines or pipeline easements), and certified termite/wood-destroying insect clearance in designated infestation zones.
Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944; 38 U.S.C. Chapter 37; 38 CFR Part 36; VA Pamphlet 26-7 (Lenders Handbook), Chapter 12.
applies when — Parcel securing a residential purchase or refinance financed through an FHA-insured Title II mortgage.
Binds the parcel to HUD's Minimum Property Standards (MPS) covering basic safety, soundness, and security (e.g., structural integrity, adequate heating, safe potable water, clear drainage, lead-free surfaces). Imposes parcel-level statutory loan limits capping the insurable mortgage amount by county/MSA (ranging from the national 'floor' to the national 'ceiling' based on median county home prices). Non-compliant property deficiencies must be cured as a condition precedent to endorsement.
National Housing Act of 1934; 12 U.S.C. § 1709; 24 CFR Part 200, Subpart S; HUD Handbook 4000.1 (Single Family Housing Policy Handbook), adjusted annually by HUD Mortgagee Letters.
applies when — Disposition of a United States Real Property Interest (USRPI) where the transferor (seller) is a foreign person (non-resident alien individual, foreign corporation, foreign partnership, trust, or estate).
Imposes an affirmative withholding tax obligation on the transferee (buyer) to withhold and remit tax on the gross amount realized (gross sales price). The statutory base withholding rate is 15% of the total purchase price (Formula: Tax = Amount Realized × 15%). Exemptions and reductions: (1) 0% withholding applies if the amount realized is $300,000 or less AND the buyer certifies personal residence occupancy for at least 50% of days used over each of the first two 12-month periods; (2) reduced withholding rate of 10% applies if the amount realized exceeds $300,000 but does not exceed $1,000,000 and the buyer meets the personal residence requirement (Formula: Tax = Amount Realized × 10%); (3) withholding can be reduced or eliminated if an IRS Withholding Certificate (Form 8288-B) is obtained or if the seller furnishes a Non-Foreign Status Certification.
Internal Revenue Code Section 1445 (26 U.S.C. § 1445), originally enacted under FIRPTA of 1980; standard rate increased from 10% to 15% under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, effective February 16, 2016.
applies when — Residential 'target housing' constructed prior to 1978 offered for sale or lease (excluding zero-bedroom dwellings, housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities unless a child under 6 resides there, and certified lead-free properties).
Requires sellers and landlords to disclose known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards, provide all available evaluation reports/records, provide the EPA-approved informational pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home', and grant prospective buyers a 10-day inspection period (subject to mutual written waiver). Parties must execute a formal disclosure attachment; failure exposes non-compliant parties to statutory civil penalties and treble damages.
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X of Pub. L. 102-550; 42 U.S.C. § 4852d); joint HUD/EPA regulations at 24 CFR Part 35, Subpart A and 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart F.
applies when — The parcel contains covered multifamily residential dwellings designed and constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 (defined as all dwelling units in buildings with 4 or more units with an elevator, or ground floor dwelling units in buildings with 4 or more units without an elevator).
Imposes mandatory physical structural criteria on the parcel improvements: (1) accessible building entrance on an accessible route, (2) accessible public and common use areas, (3) usable doors for wheelchairs, (4) accessible routes into and through each dwelling unit, (5) light switches, electrical outlets, and environmental controls in accessible locations, (6) reinforced bathroom walls for grab bar installation, and (7) usable kitchens and bathrooms permitting wheelchair maneuvering. Non-conforming improvements require mandatory structural retrofits and subject developers/owners to federal civil actions.
Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(3)(C)); HUD regulations at 24 CFR 100.205.
applies when — The parcel secures a residential mortgage originated before the property owner entered active military service, where the debt is enforced during or within one year after active military service.
Restricts lender foreclosure rights by nullifying any non-judicial foreclosure, sale, or seizure of the residential parcel without a court order or valid written waiver executed by the servicemember during or after active duty. Courts are empowered to stay foreclosure proceedings or adjust loan payments. Foreclosing without a court order constitutes a federal criminal misdemeanor and exposes the lender to civil damages.
50 U.S.C. 3953; codified originally as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, modernized under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-189).
applies when — The residential parcel is owned by a person or entity that has neglected or refused to pay any assessed federal tax liability (income, gift, estate, or payroll tax) after formal demand.
Under IRC § 6321, a statutory lien arises automatically as of the date of assessment and attaches to all real property owned or acquired by the taxpayer. Upon the IRS filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) in local county land records under IRC § 6323, it perfects priority against subsequent purchasers, mortgagees, and judgment lien creditors. Rate and computation: The lien secures 100% of the underlying unpaid tax assessment, plus compounding interest under IRC § 6621 (the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points) and statutory late-payment penalties under IRC § 6651 (0.5% per month, up to a maximum cap of 25%). No parcel-level homestead exemption exists under federal law against an IRC § 7403 judicial foreclosure or tax collection lien.
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §§ 6321, 6322, 6323.
applies when — The parcel is improved with target residential housing built before 1978 undergoing renovation, repair, or painting activities for compensation that disturb more than 6 sq. ft. of interior painted surface or 20 sq. ft. of exterior painted surface.
Legally prohibits uncertified contractors from performing qualifying physical alterations on the home. Contractors must be EPA-certified and adhere to specific lead-safe containment, containment plastic barriers, HEPA vacuuming, and cleaning verification protocols. Imposes strict recordkeeping burdens and exposes property alterations to federal administrative stop-work orders and civil fines for uncontained lead dust contamination.
Promulgated under TSCA § 402(c)(3) (15 U.S.C. 2682); codified at 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart E; fully effective April 22, 2010.
applies when — The parcel contains wetlands, streams, or waterways that meet the definition of 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) as delineated under the Clean Water Act.
Prohibits the discharge of dredged or fill material into jurisdictional wetlands or waters without a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Restricts residential site grading, driveway installation, structural foundation expansion, or shoreline bulkheading; unauthorized fill mandates compulsory site restoration and subjects parcel owners to civil penalties exceeding $50,000 per day under 33 U.S.C. 1319.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act), 33 U.S.C. 1344; current delineation criteria governed in accordance with Sackett v. EPA (2023) and conforming federal rulemaking (40 CFR Part 120 / 33 CFR Part 328).
applies when — The residential parcel is listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or lies within an eligible historic district, and involves an action subject to federal agency funding, permitting, licensing, or mortgage assistance (e.g., HUD/FHA, VA, USDA, or USACE permits).
Federal agencies must assess adverse effects on historic resources prior to approving loans, grants, or permits. Parcel alterations, demolitions, or rehabilitation programs that receive federal assistance are subjected to binding Section 106 consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, restricting unapproved structural modifications or exterior elevation changes.
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (54 U.S.C. 306108, formerly 16 U.S.C. 470f); regulations codified at 36 CFR Part 800.
applies when — The parcel is being purchased or refinanced using FHA-insured Title II financing under the National Housing Act.
Restricts financing eligibility based on parcel and structural criteria: (1) County Loan Limits cap the maximum insurable mortgage balance per parcel based on local median housing costs (ranging from a federal statutory floor of 65% of the national conforming limit up to a statutory ceiling of 150%). (2) Imposes mandatory HUD Minimum Property Standards (MPS; HUD Handbook 4000.1 / 24 CFR Part 200) requiring mandatory appraisal repair escrows or seller cures for deficiencies regarding structural soundness, safety, soil stability, drainage, well/septic separation buffers, and lead paint encapsulation before loan endorsement.
National Housing Act of 1934, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1709); annual loan limit updates promulgated under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).
applies when — The parcel constitutes a U.S. Real Property Interest (USRPI) transferred or disposed of by a 'foreign person' (non-resident alien individual, foreign corporation, foreign partnership, or foreign trust/estate).
Imposes an absolute statutory obligation on the transferee/buyer to withhold gross tax from the total amount realized (purchase price) upon disposition and remit it to the IRS within 20 days using Forms 8288 and 8288-A. Rate structure and formula: Base statutory withholding rate is 15% of the gross sales price. Residential personal residence exemption computation: (1) If the gross sales price does not exceed $300,000 AND the buyer (or family member) intends to use the parcel as a personal residence for at least 50% of days used during each of the first two 12-month periods, the withholding rate is 0%. (2) If the gross sales price exceeds $300,000 but does not exceed $1,000,000 and meets the same personal residence test, the withholding rate is reduced to 10% of the gross sales price. (3) For all sales exceeding $1,000,000, or where the buyer does not satisfy the personal residence requir
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 1445; enacted via the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, with standard rate increased from 10% to 15% pursuant to the PATH Act of 2015.
applies when — The parcel is improved with 'target housing,' defined as any residential dwelling constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless a child under age 6 resides or is expected to reside there) or 0-bedroom dwellings.
Before a purchaser or lessee becomes obligated under any contract to buy or lease, the seller or landlord must: (1) provide an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet ('Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home'), (2) disclose any known lead-based paint or hazards and provide all available records/evaluations, (3) attach a federal Lead Warning Statement and disclosure certification to the contract, and (4) afford buyers a mandatory 10-day mutual inspection period (waivable in writing) to conduct a risk assessment. Failure to comply exposes violators to civil liability, statutory treble damages, and administrative penalties up to statutory maximums per violation.
Enacted under Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4852d), implemented jointly by EPA and HUD at 40 CFR Part 745 / 24 CFR Part 35.
applies when — Parcel contains improved real estate or a manufactured home situated within a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA, such as Zones A or V / 100-year floodplain) in an NFIP-participating community, where financing is secured via a federally regulated, supervised, or insured lender (including GSEs, FHA, VA, USDA).
Mandates borrower to purchase and maintain flood insurance coverage (via NFIP or qualifying private flood insurance policy) for the term of the mortgage up to the lesser of the outstanding principal loan balance, the maximum NFIP statutory limit ($250,000 for residential 1-4 units), or the insurable value of the property. Lenders must escrow flood insurance premiums unless specific small-lender exceptions apply.
Established under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. § 4012a) and National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, amended by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012; private flood insurance acceptance regulations updated at 24 CFR Part 203 (FHA, 2022).
Governance registry — every jurisdiction re-researches on a rolling 90-day cycle. Property reports compose these inherited burdens into a per-parcel ledger with conditional determinations. Informational only — not legal advice.