Questions About Selling a House in Columbia, MD

We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.

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We give written cash offers in 24 hours. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.

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Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.

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No fees. No agent commissions when you sell to us. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Maryland's state transfer tax, recordation tax and any applicable county transfer tax. Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate amounts.

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Maryland law generally presumes the buyer and seller split the state transfer tax and recordation tax unless the contract says otherwise. The state transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price; each county sets its recordation-tax rate, and many counties also charge a county transfer tax. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the home, the state rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state transfer tax, recordation tax, and any local transfer tax unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt.

Maryland state transfer tax law →

Maryland recordation tax law →

Maryland law on who pays transfer taxes →

Usually, the court-appointed personal representative signs the sale—not the heirs. That is the executor named in the will or an administrator if there is no will. The personal representative can generally sell estate property without separate court approval unless the will or a court order limits that authority. If the will restricts a sale or family members disagree, the representative can ask the court for permission. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.

Read about inherited houses and estate authority →

Maryland law on estate property →

Maryland personal representative powers →

Maryland law on court permission for an estate sale →

If a house passes to someone other than close family, such as a niece, nephew, or friend, Maryland's 10% inheritance tax may be due through the Register of Wills.

Read about inherited houses and estate authority →

Maryland Registers of Wills inheritance-tax information →

Often, yes, if the loan can be paid off at closing before the foreclosure sale. If a foreclosure sale is scheduled, tell us the date right away so we can try to close before it. The lender must mail a notice of intent to foreclose at least 45 days before filing, and cannot file until 90 days after the default. If you live in the home, you can generally request foreclosure mediation within 25 days after the lender's final loss-mitigation affidavit is served. You can catch up the loan until one business day before the sale. If you live there and are at least 60 days behind, you can cancel a contract to sell within five days of signing; a deed or other document affecting title cannot be recorded during those five days. The circuit court must approve the foreclosure sale before it is final. You have 30 days after notice of the report of sale to file an objection, called an exception.

Read about Maryland foreclosure and sale timing →

Maryland foreclosure-sale law →

Maryland foreclosure process and mediation law →

Maryland right to catch up a mortgage before sale →

Maryland five-day right to cancel certain sale contracts →

You don't always 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. The lease continues with the new owner. In some one-to-three-unit rentals, a tenant named on a written lease who has lived there at least six months has a right to make an offer before you offer the property elsewhere. The tenant generally has 30 days to make an offer; if it matches the terms in your notice, you must accept it. Some family, court-ordered, foreclosure, and estate or trust transfers are exempt, and some later offers give the tenant a chance to match. Maryland law also requires the security deposit to be transferred to the buyer with an accounting at closing; you remain liable for any deposit you do not pass along. We can talk through the lease and timing with you.

Read about selling a house with tenants →

Maryland law on a new owner and an existing tenancy →

Maryland tenant opportunity-to-purchase law →

Maryland security-deposit law →

You don't need to pay off your back taxes before we settle. We buy houses with back taxes and liens — payoffs get handled through the closing, not by you upfront.

Read about back taxes and property liens →