Maryland DHCD: Right of First Refusal
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development explains the state's tenant opportunity-to-purchase rules for rental-property sales.
Baltimore, MD seller help · Baltimore City · Tenant-occupied property
You're done — no turnover, no repairs, no more bad tenants.
Yes. You can sell your Baltimore City house with tenants still living there. We buy houses in Baltimore, Maryland — Baltimore City, an independent city and county-equivalent.
A sale does not end the lease or require a tenant to move. The buyer steps into the landlord's place under the lease, so the property can be sold occupied.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the house and tenancy.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us about the property and tenancy.
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What we do with a tenant-occupied house
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can tell us about the Baltimore City property while the tenant is still there.
You don't need to evict to sell to us. We buy houses with tenants in place — we've done it many times, including cash-for-keys when that works better for everyone. Tell us about the property and tenancy.
If a tenant move-out arrangement is part of what would work better for everyone, tell us about it. The lease and applicable process still matter when discussing those terms.
Bring us the problem
Lease timing, limited access, repairs, rent or deposit questions, tenant communication, or uncertainty about possession can all be part of the conversation. Call 888-274-5006 and tell us what is happening; you do not have to decide on eviction before talking with us.
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above to start.
What happens next
1. Talk through the property and lease
We discuss the Baltimore City address, who lives there, what the lease says, how access works, the house's condition, and the occupancy or timing questions you have.
2. Read the written offer and terms
We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
3. Account for the occupied-property handoff
If you choose to move forward, the sale paperwork and closing need to account for the lease, who occupies the house, and the security-deposit handoff. A sale does not erase those tenant details.
Local help for a Baltimore City rental
Maryland Tenants' Bill of Rights
Read Maryland DHCD's statewide tenant-rights information for rental housing.
Circuit Court for Baltimore City — Land Records/Licenses Department
The court's official page identifies the local Land Records/Licenses Department.
Maryland leases, tenant purchase rights, and security deposits
The lease stays in place after a sale
A sale does not by itself cancel the lease. The buyer steps into the landlord's place with the same rights under it, so a tenant does not have to move just because the owner changes. See Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-101.
A tenant may have a chance to make an offer
For a property with one to three units, Maryland generally requires written notice of the tenant's right to make an offer before you offer the property to anyone else if a tenant named on the written lease has lived there at least six months. The tenant gets 30 days to make an offer; if it matches the terms in your notice, you must accept it.
An unsolicited third-party offer, or a price at least 10% below the lowest price previously offered to the tenant, can also give the tenant 30 days to match the offer. Exceptions include transfers to family, court-ordered and foreclosure sales, and certain estate and trust transfers. See Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-119 and Maryland DHCD's Right of First Refusal information.
Pass the security deposit and its records to the buyer
At sale, the security deposit goes to the buyer with an accounting showing each deposit's amount and date, any interest-rate records, and the tenant's name and last known address. Maryland sets no separate deadline for that handoff, but you remain liable for any deposit you do not pass along. Deposits must be returned with interest within 45 days after a tenancy ends. See Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(d)(3) and (e).
More Baltimore seller resources
Baltimore home-sale net proceeds calculator →Compare the numbers you enter for a sale, payoff, repairs, and other costs.Baltimore seller resources →Browse local seller information and related pages.How the Baltimore process works →See the broader path from property details to written terms and title-company closing.Baltimore as-is sale options →Compare a direct sale with other ways to sell an as-is house.Baltimore seller questions →Read more answers for Baltimore sellers.Inherited-property help →Use this page when the rental is also tied to an estate or authority-to-sign question.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Here's what sellers across Pennsylvania have said about working with us.
“WellSpan transferred me to their Chambersburg facility and I needed to be there in four weeks. My West York house was in good shape but I couldn't be in two places at once for a traditional sale. USA Home Buyers had a written offer the same morning I called. Closed in eight days. I made it to Chambersburg before my start date.”
“Divorce settlement required the house on King Street to be sold. My ex and I couldn't even be in the same room. USA Home Buyers handled everything through our attorneys. One number, one closing, proceeds split the day we signed.”
“Received an Act 91 notice in January. I had no idea I had maybe six months before a sheriff sale. USA Home Buyers explained everything — the timeline, the options — and had a written offer the next morning. We closed before any court filings. I walked away with $41,000 instead of nothing.”
Baltimore tenant-occupied seller questions
Can I sell my Baltimore City house while tenants are still living there?
Yes. You can sell with tenants in place. A sale does not end the lease; the buyer steps into the landlord's place under its terms, so tenants do not have to move just because the property is sold.
Do I have to evict the tenants before selling to you?
You don't need to evict to sell to us. We buy houses with tenants in place — we've done it many times, including cash-for-keys when that works better for everyone. A sale by itself does not end a lease or require a tenant to move.
Can my tenant have a chance to buy the house first?
Sometimes. Maryland generally requires written notice before offering certain one-to-three-unit rentals to someone else when a tenant named on the written lease has lived there at least six months. The tenant generally has 30 days to make an offer. See the Maryland tenant-purchase section below for the matching-offer rule and exceptions.
What happens to the security deposit when I sell?
The deposit goes to the buyer with an accounting of each deposit's amount and date, interest-rate records, and the tenant's name and last known address. Maryland sets no separate deadline for that handoff, but you remain liable for any deposit you do not pass along. A deposit must be returned with interest within 45 days after a tenancy ends.
How soon will I get a written cash offer?
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Talk through the tenant situation
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Baltimore City address and what you know about the lease, occupancy, access, or repairs.
Prices, timing and your selling options
Home prices in Baltimore
Homes in Baltimore, MD sold for a median of $245,000 for the three months ending August 2026 (Redfin). Repairs and condition affect what someone will pay for your house. Homes in Baltimore, MD spent a median of 44 days on the market for the three months ending August 2026 (Redfin). You still have bills while waiting to sell, including utilities and any mortgage payments. Allow time for closing, too.