Baltimore city, Maryland: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Baltimore city is worth $219,300, property taxes on it run about $3,236 a year (1.48%), the FHA loan limit is $747,500, and closing on it means about $6,580 in transfer tax plus $1,540 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $219,300 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $3,236 a year, 1.48% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $747,500 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $6,580 (incl. Baltimore City Recordation Tax + Local Transfer Tax (combined)) | Maryland transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $1,190 owner's + $350 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $175 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $8,295 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $134,000; low-income limit $106,800 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Baltimore city?
The median owner-occupied home in Baltimore city is valued at $219,300, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Baltimore city?
The median Baltimore city homeowner pays $3,236 a year in real estate taxes, about 1.48% of the median home value ($3,521 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Baltimore city?
$747,500 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Baltimore city?
On the $219,300 median home: transfer tax $6,580, title insurance $1,540 for both policies, recording fees about $175, about $8,295 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Baltimore city?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Baltimore city (Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA) is $134,000. A family of four counts as low income below $106,800 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby Maryland counties
- Allegany County $149,200
- Anne Arundel County $450,300
- Baltimore County $330,000
- Calvert County $440,200
- Caroline County $272,400
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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