Maryland Cash Home Buyers

 The "Silent Deal Killer" in Montgomery County: Selling a Home with Unpermitted Work If you own a home in Silver Spring, Rockville, or Bethesda that was renovated in the 1980s or 90s, there is a decent chance you are sitting on a time bomb. It’s called the "Unpermitted Finished Basement." Thirty years ago, many homeowners finished their basements or built decks with the help of a "handy neighbor" or a weekend contractor. They didn't pull permits. They didn't get electrical inspections. They just got it done. In 2026, those decisions are coming back to haunt sellers. The "MoCo" Compliance Reality Montgomery County has some of the strictest code enforcement in the state. Unlike some rural counties where unpermitted work is viewed as a minor annoyance, Montgomery County buyers—and their lenders—treat it as a major liability. We are seeing a rising trend of retail deals falling apart at the 11th hour because a buyer’s agent pulled the permit ...

Beyond the "Zestimate": 3 Hidden Costs of Selling a House in Maryland (2026 Edition) When most Maryland homeowners decide to sell, they focus on one number: The Sale Price. They look at what the neighbor’s house sold for in Towson or Silver Spring, subtract the standard 6% for agent commissions, and assume the rest is profit. Unfortunately, the math at the settlement table is rarely that simple. Maryland is known for having some of the more complex closing costs and transfer taxes in the region. If you are calculating your potential equity based on a gross sales price, you might be overestimating your final check by thousands of dollars. Here are three "hidden" costs that often catch sellers by surprise—and how to budget for them. 1. The Transfer and Recordation Tax Split Unlike some states where transfer taxes are negligible, Maryland’s transfer and recordation taxes are significant. While it is customary in many counties to split these 50/50 between buyer and sell...