How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in Maryland? (Part 12 of 30: The Prince George's County Answer Guide)

This is Part 12 of The Prince George's County Answer Guide from Donnell Williams Jr. and DMV Prime Properties, a 30-part series answering the questions buyers, sellers, and people relocating are actually searching about Prince George's County, Maryland.

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How much does it cost to sell a house in Maryland? In Prince George's County, a seller's costs usually include brokerage compensation, the seller's share of transfer and recordation taxes, settlement and title charges, property tax and HOA prorations, and any repairs or concessions negotiated with the buyer. Your mortgage payoff is not a cost, but it comes out of your proceeds.

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A seller net sheet is a written estimate that starts with the sale price, subtracts every expected cost and payoff, and shows what you walk away with. This post walks through one.

Key Takeaways

Prince George's County charges a 1.4% county transfer tax, according to the Prince George's County Office of Finance.
Maryland's state transfer tax is 0.5% of the price, under Md. Code, Tax-Property §13-203.
Recordation tax in Prince George's County is $5.50 per $1,000 of consideration, per the county Office of Finance.
Md. Code, Real Property §14-104 presumes an equal split of transfer and recordation taxes, but when the buyer is a qualifying first-time Maryland home buyer, the seller pays them all by default.
Brokerage compensation is negotiable and is not set by law.
A net sheet should be updated at every stage: listing, offer review, and before settlement.

How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in Maryland? The Main Categories

Seller costs fall into five groups. Each one appears as a line on a net sheet.

1. Brokerage compensation

This is what you pay your listing brokerage, and possibly an amount you agree to pay toward the buyer's brokerage. There is no standard or legally required rate. Since the National Association of REALTORS settlement practice changes took effect in August 2024, offers of compensation to buyer brokers are no longer posted in the MLS, and buyers sign written agreements with their own agents. Sellers can still offer buyer agent compensation or a concession. Every term should be in writing.

2. Transfer and recordation taxes

Maryland and Prince George's County charge taxes when a deed is recorded. According to the Prince George's County Office of Finance, the county transfer tax is 1.4% and the recordation tax is $5.50 per $1,000. Md. Code, Tax-Property §13-203 sets the state transfer tax at 0.5%. Md. Code, Real Property §14-104(b) presumes the buyer and seller share these taxes equally unless the contract says otherwise. Section 14-104(c) is the key exception for first-time buyers, covered below.

3. Settlement and title charges

The seller usually pays for items tied to delivering clear title. These can include deed preparation, a settlement or closing fee on the seller's side, lien release recording fees, and courier or wire fees. [Donnell to confirm typical seller-side settlement fee ranges with preferred title partners.]

4. Prorations and payoffs

Prorations divide ongoing costs between buyer and seller as of the settlement date. Maryland property taxes run on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year. If you have already paid the current bill, you may receive a credit for the days after settlement. HOA or condo dues are prorated the same way. Your mortgage payoff, any home equity line, and any other liens are paid from your proceeds.

5. Repairs, credits, and concessions

After a home inspection, buyers often ask for repairs or a credit. These requests are common in fall 2026. According to Bright MLS data for Prince George's County for September 2026, 396 of the 580 homes sold that month (68%) included seller concessions, and the median concession when paid was $12,511.

Sample Prince George's County Seller Net Sheet at $450,000

The example below uses a $450,000 sale price, which matches the median sold price in the PGCAR April 2026 Market Watch and the September 2026 median sold price in Bright MLS. Every assumption is labeled. Your numbers will differ.

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Assumptions for illustration only: total brokerage compensation of 5% (not a standard, and fully negotiable), a buyer who is not a first-time Maryland home buyer, taxes split equally, no exemptions, a $250,000 mortgage payoff, and a $12,511 seller concession (the Bright MLS median for September 2026 sales that included one).

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Line Item	How It Is Calculated	Estimated Amount
Sale Price	Contract price	$450,000
Brokerage Compensation	Assumed 5% for illustration	($22,500)
County Transfer Tax, Seller Half	1.4% × $450,000 = $6,300, divided by 2	($3,150)
State Transfer Tax, Seller Half	0.5% × $450,000 = $2,250, divided by 2	($1,125)
Recordation Tax, Seller Half	$5.50 per $1,000 = $2,475, divided by 2	($1,237.50)
Seller Settlement and Title Fees	Varies by company	[Donnell to confirm]
Seller Concession to Buyer	Negotiated	($12,511)
Mortgage Payoff	From lender payoff letter	($250,000)
Property Tax and HOA Prorations	Depends on settlement date	Credit or charge
Estimated Proceeds Before Fees and Prorations		$159,476.50

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In this example, the seller's share of transfer and recordation taxes totals $5,512.50, or about 1.2% of the price. The total tax bill on the transaction is $11,025.

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The largest variables are the ones you negotiate: compensation, concessions, and price. In this example, the concession alone costs more than twice the seller's tax share.

Who Pays Transfer Tax When You Sell in Prince George's County?

An equal split is the default, and the contract can change it. The big exception is a buyer who is a first-time Maryland home buyer purchasing a principal residence. Tax-Property §13-203 reduces the state transfer tax to 0.25%. Real Property §14-104(c) then requires the seller to pay that entire state tax, plus the entire county transfer tax and recordation tax, unless the contract has an express agreement otherwise on the county and recordation taxes.

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Seller Tax Cost on $450,000	Standard Buyer (50/50)	First-Time Buyer (Default)
County Transfer Tax	$3,150	$6,300
State Transfer Tax	$1,125	$1,125 (at 0.25%)
Recordation Tax	$1,237.50	$2,475
Seller Total	$5,512.50	$9,900

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That is $4,387.50 more for the seller, while the buyer pays $0. Sellers can negotiate an express agreement for the buyer to share the county and recordation taxes, usually alongside price. Part 13 of this series covers who pays transfer tax in more detail.

What Other Costs Should Maryland Sellers Plan For?

Pre-listing preparation

Paint, minor repairs, cleaning, and staging are optional but common. Bright MLS shows about 1,843 active listings in Prince George's County at the end of September 2026, so buyers have many homes to compare against yours.

Disclosures and HOA documents

Maryland sellers generally must provide the Maryland Residential Property Disclosure and Disclaimer Statement under Md. Code, Real Property §10-702. Sellers in an HOA or condominium must also provide resale documents, and the association may charge a fee for preparing them. [Donnell to confirm current Maryland HOA and condo resale package fee limits.]

Carrying costs

Every month the home is on the market, you keep paying the mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, and HOA dues. Homes sold in September 2026 averaged 34.7 days on market, and 233 listings expired that month without selling, per Bright MLS. Pricing correctly from day one usually costs less than carrying a home through price cuts (see Part 17 of this series on why a house is not selling in Prince George's County).

Taxes on the gain

Capital gains are not a closing cost, but they can affect what you keep. Part 14 of this series explains the federal home sale exclusion and Maryland's treatment. Sellers who are moving out of state should also read Part 15 on Maryland nonresident withholding at settlement.

How Accurate Is a Seller Net Sheet?

A net sheet is an estimate. Final numbers come from the settlement company's settlement statement. Accuracy improves with a current payoff letter, the ratified contract terms, the settlement company's fee quote, and the real settlement date.

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Donnell is a PMP-certified project manager, and a net sheet is a budget reviewed at each milestone. DMV Prime Properties updates a seller's net sheet at the listing appointment, at each offer, and before settlement so there are no surprises at the table.

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Donnell has worked in Prince George's County real estate since 2000, starting as a high school summer intern at Asset Realty, and later helped build out that brokerage's REO department. The lesson from those years applies to every sale: the seller who knows the net number early negotiates with more confidence.

Can You Lower the Cost of Selling a House in Maryland?

Several costs are negotiable or controllable:

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Brokerage compensation: discuss services, marketing, and fees in the listing agreement.
Buyer concessions: decide in advance what credit, if any, you will accept in exchange for price or timing.
Tax split: the contract can change who pays, including an express agreement with a first-time buyer.
Repairs: fixing known issues before listing can reduce inspection requests later.
Days on market: sound pricing reduces carrying costs.

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This article is general information, not legal, tax, or lending advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of the sale price do Maryland sellers pay in closing costs?

There is no fixed percentage. Costs depend on brokerage compensation, the tax split, concessions, fees, and your payoff. In the $450,000 example above, the seller's share of transfer and recordation taxes was $5,512.50, or $9,900 with a first-time buyer.

Does the seller pay transfer tax in Prince George's County?

Usually half, since Real Property §14-104(b) presumes an equal split unless the contract says otherwise. When the buyer is a qualifying first-time Maryland home buyer, §14-104(c) requires the seller to pay all of the county transfer tax, recordation tax, and reduced state transfer tax, unless the contract expressly provides otherwise for the county and recordation taxes.

What is the Prince George's County transfer tax rate?

The Prince George's County Office of Finance lists the county transfer tax at 1.4%. That is in addition to the 0.5% Maryland state transfer tax and the $5.50 per $1,000 recordation tax.

Are seller closing costs tax deductible?

Some selling expenses may reduce your taxable gain on the sale under IRS rules. How that works depends on your situation. Ask a CPA before you file.

When will I get my money after settlement in Maryland?

Proceeds are usually disbursed by the settlement company after the deed and documents are recorded or released for recording, often by wire. Ask your settlement company about its disbursement timeline and always confirm wiring instructions by phone using a verified number.

Next Steps

If you are thinking about selling, request a free home valuation and a personalized seller net sheet from Donnell Williams Jr. and DMV Prime Properties. Donnell will price your home against current Prince George's County competition, estimate your taxes, fees, and payoff, and show you what you could walk away with before you list. The brokerage philosophy is "Educate to Elevate," so every line on the net sheet is explained. DMV Prime Properties is located at 12815 Old Fort Road, Suite 105, Fort Washington, MD 20744. Call 301.265.3446, email donnell@dmvprimerealty.com, or visit OWNDMV.COM.

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