Maryland has some of the most beautiful homes in the country.  Some of these homes can reach as much much as $30 million, complete with soaring waterfront views and massive, sprawling estates perfect for escaping the doldrums of “ordinary” life.

It’s a pretty safe bet I won’t be pulling the trigger on any of these homes in the near future, but it’s still fun to check them out!  If you’re like me and love window shopping for homes, you should check these properties out!

Showing properties 1 - 20 of 20. See more Most Expensive Homes in Maryland.
(all data current as of 5/27/2012)

1. $9,800,000 : 7402 Kent Point Rd, Stevensville
   
   5 beds, 5 full, 3 part baths

   Home size: 14,000 sq ft

   Lot size: 29.32 ac

   Year built: 2004

   Parking spots: 11

   Days on market: 18
2. $9,400,000 : 110 Bellehahn Ct, Severna Park
   
   6 beds, 6 full, 2 part baths

   Lot size: 3.33 ac

   Year built: 2005

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 24
3. $7,250,000 : 7224 Arrowood Rd, Bethesda
   
   7 beds, 9 full, 2 part baths

   Lot size: 1.19 ac

   Year built: 2006

   Parking spots: 6

   Days on market: 49
4. $9,900,000 : 15325 Masonwood Dr, North Potomac
   
   8 beds, 9 full, 4 part baths

   Lot size: 34.80 ac

   Year built: 2004

   Parking spots: 6

   Days on market: 60
5. $7,500,000 : 11408 Highland Farm Ct, Potomac
   
   9 beds, 11 full, 3 part baths

   Lot size: 2.00 ac

   Year built: 1989

   Parking spots: 6

   Days on market: 64
6. $9,850,000 : 237 Bohemia Manor Farm Ln, Chesapeake City
   
   11 beds, 7 full, 3 part baths

   Lot size: 368.00 ac

   Year built: 1935

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 180
7. $8,950,000 : 12929 Catoctin Hollow Rd, Thurmont
   
   13 beds, 9 full baths

   Lot size: 382.69 ac

   Year built: 1940

   Days on market: 191
8. $7,600,000 : 5391 Morgans Point Dr, Oxford
   
   6 beds, 7 full, 2 part baths

   Lot size: 4.66 ac

   Year built: 2007

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 224
9. $8,500,000 : 12514 Pennyfield Lock Rd, Potomac
   
   5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Lot size: 24.11 ac

   Year built: 1977

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 235
10. $12,500,000 : 1234 Cherry Tree Ln, Annapolis
    
    6 beds, 5 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 12,000 sq ft

    Lot size: 6.24 ac

    Year built: 1990

    Parking spots: 8

    Days on market: 264
11. $8,500,000 : 102 Piney Creek Ln, Elkton
    
    5 beds, 4 full, 2 part baths

    Lot size: 21.93 ac

    Year built: 1900

    Days on market: 266
12. $10,000,000 : 10501 Chapel Rd, Potomac
    
    9 beds, 11 full, 5 part baths

    Lot size: 3.77 ac

    Year built: 2009

    Parking spots: 5

    Days on market: 298
13. $8,500,000 : 1514 Whitehall Rd, Annapolis
    
    5 beds, 5 full, 2 part baths

    Lot size: 39.40 ac

    Year built: 2006

    Parking spots: 7

    Days on market: 402
14. $8,500,000 : 622 Ponte Villas N, Baltimore
    
    6 beds, 7 full, 3 part baths

    Home size: 9,069 sq ft

    Year built: 2007

    Parking spots: 4

    Days on market: 489
15. $30,000,000 : 3675 Decoursey Bridge Rd, Cambridge
    
    11 beds, 10 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 14,000 sq ft

    Lot size: 3,134.83 ac

    Year built: 1990

    Days on market: 614
16. $7,800,000 : 26020 Marengo Rd, Easton
    
    4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

    Lot size: 81.07 ac

    Year built: 1820

    Days on market: 619
17. $7,750,000 : 22020 Benders Ln, Sherwood
    
    5 beds, 5 full, 1 part baths

    Lot size: 128.55 ac

    Year built: 1999

    Parking spots: 4

    Days on market: 696
18. $8,900,000 : 6010 Shipyard Ln, Easton
    
    6 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

    Lot size: 13.02 ac

    Year built: 1926

    Parking spots: 5

    Days on market: 997
19. $12,950,000 : 7373 Tilghman Island Rd, Sherwood
    
    9 beds, 5 full, 1 part baths

    Lot size: 143.52 ac

    Year built: 1929

    Parking spots: 4

    Days on market: 1,779
20. $9,999,000 : 300 Wye Narrows Dr, Queenstown
    
    9 beds, 10 full, 4 part baths

    Lot size: 24.88 ac

    Year built: 1989

    Parking spots: 4

    Days on market: 2,127

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

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It’s time to give back to the community in a big way! I’m donating 10% of my income to the Humane Society of Charles County in the months of June and July on behalf of my clients!

If you’re thinking about buying a house this summer and you want a top notch agent, give us a call at 301-653-8113 and 10% of my commission will go to helping our local furry friends find great homes too!

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Southern Maryland Short Sale homes are selling like hotcakes, but is there profit in short sales for owners? Who makes a profit from a short sale, and is the right option for you? If you’re trying to find a way to avoid foreclosure and save your credit, a short sale may be the answer. Here we’re going to go over everything you need to know about short sale homes and who is exactly profiting from the sales. Let’s get started!

The Seller Profits from a Short Sale

The seller of the home profits, but usually not financially. If you’re conducting a short sale on your home, you’re trying to avoid foreclosure and keep your credit; if you pay your mortgage payments on time (FHA rules state that you must never be more than 60 days late) you may even qualify for an FHA/Fannie Mae loan to buy a new home. If you stop making your mortgage payments, you’ll have to wait 1-2 years on average to get another loan to get into your next home.

The Buyer Profits from a Short Sale

But not as much as you might think; short sale homes in Southern Maryland will go for less than market price, but no one is buying a house for extremely low prices (and if they are, they have a long road of restoration ahead). The buyer will end up paying less in taxes, and if they can improve the home to a comparable condition to the houses around it, they can resell it at a nice profit.

The community itself can profit from short sales by new insurance being bought, tax assessors and home remodeling contractors being hired; the list goes on and on, but all in all a short sale helps the seller get back on track and buyers into new homes.

Are There Dangers in a Short Sale?

When you’re putting your home up for a short sale, there’s always the risk that your lender (in most cases this will be the bank that granted you the mortgage) will not agree to a short sale. The lender is often the one person who doesn’t make any money in a short sale, and they’ll often lose money. You will also need to be careful about who you have handle your short sale.

There are many real estate agents that work with investors to get short sales running; this in of itself isn’t a bad thing, but the investor is going to be worried about getting the lowest price, not making sure you get as much debt bundled in with the short sale. The real estate agent (like me!) should work with you to make sure the terms are as amicable for you as possible. While no one can guarantee approval of a short sale, we can do our best to make sure you get a fair shake.

If you want to avoid foreclosure, check out my short sale information page.

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Short sales are a great way to wipe out your debts, but it can be a hard ball to get rolling. If you tried to get a loan modification and you’re nearing foreclosure, you most likely already qualify for a short sale; but if you are just starting to fall behind on your mortgage payments or are upside down on your mortgage, you may not be there yet. Getting your lender to authorize a short sale will mean finding a buyer and getting everyone who holds your debts to agree to the sale price.

You Can Still Make Your Payments During a Short Sale

Contrary to the information that’s out there, you can keep paying on your mortgage until the home is sold. You may even be able to salvage your credit and be in a new home as long as you weren’t delinquent on your payments. If you’re not able to sell your home on a short sale offer, you’ll be able to cancel the listing and stay in your home, and keep making your payments. While this isn’t the happiest outcome for someone who needs to relieve themselves of a mortgage payment every month, you’ll be able to stay in your home and you won’t be penalized.

If You Choose to Quit Paying Your Mortgage During a Short Sale

If you choose to quit paying your mortgage payments and pursue a short sale offer, there are some benefits. First, if your house doesn’t sell you’ll have enough money to move out and move on; I don’t even have to go over all of the expenses of moving in Southern Maryland.  If the bank isn’t getting your hard earned money, they’re more likely to agree to a short sale to recoup their losses, but they may pursue a deficiency judgment against you if they’re unable to get the full debt repaid.

If the Short Sale Fails, is Foreclosure an Option?

If you can’t find a buyer for your Southern Maryland short sale home, you may face foreclosure for stopping your mortgage payments. This is just one of the consequences you might face for not paying, so you need to be prepared just in case.  Many people start down the road to a short sale, stop making their payments and inadvertently end up in foreclosure; with the right Southern Maryland real estate agent (like me!) who specializes in short sales, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding foreclosure and saving your dignity.

If You Stop Making Payments and a Short Sale Succeeds

Congratulations, you’ve escaped foreclosure! But if you stop making payments you may face derogatory reports on your credit to the big three bureaus. You’ll also have to wait 2+ years to qualify for a Fannie Mae mortgage.

If you want your short sale to succeed, you need a southern Maryland real estate agent that’s been through the process before and can guide you through it. Check out my short sale information form here.

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If you’re a first time home buyer or buying a new home, you need to know about Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits. Unlike traditional home loans with crazy interest rates and terms, the Maryland CDA Mortgage Program is pretty straightforward. Best of all down payment and closing cost assistance come standard, so if you need a little help you’ll still be able to get into your dream home.

Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits #1

Build your own home or move into an existing home; depending on where you choose to apply for your loan (different targeted areas will give you different options) you’ll be able to build your dream home or find an existing home that makes your heart sing. Investment properties sadly are not eligible for Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits, but the following homes are:

• Condos (and certain apartments), townhomes and modular or manufactured homes that are approved and pass building codes
• Existing homes (detached or semi-detached homes)
• New construction

Again, this program is for people whose primary residence will be the home they are buying. If you’re trying to buy an investment rental property this isn’t the program for you.

Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits #2

Tired of creative variable interest rate mortgages, balloon payments and prepayment penalties? With a Maryland CDA Mortgage you’ll get fixed interest rate mortgages; this means whatever the rate is when you originate (start) your mortgage is what it will be for the next 30 years. As of April 2012 this is 4.25-4.9% interest, while many homeowners are struggling with 20% interest home loans. Unless rates dip back down into the 3% range again, now is the perfect time for you to buy.

The kicker about this program though is the credit score of the borrower (representative or middle) needs to be 620 or above. If you have an acceptable “nontraditional credit rating” you may still be able to apply. This can lead you into murky FHA waters where you’ll want a HAFA realtor in Maryland to take a look at it and help you decide if you’re eligible for Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits.

Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits #3

Closing Costs and Down Payment Assistance; who doesn’t need that when they’re moving into a home? A program that works well with Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits is called “DSELP” helps people get into their home and alleviates the burden of closing a home. There are other ways you can get help with closing costs like the House Keys 4 Employees program, Builder/Developer Incentive Program and the BRAC match program.

The Maryland CDA Mortgage Program benefits many first time home buyers and those who are trying to buy a new home. While you need decent credit to participate in the program, credit repair can help you be ready for to apply to for a Maryland CDA Mortgage and get into your dream home. Home ownership shouldn’t just be for real estate investors. If you’d like more information, click my Maryland CDA Mortgage Program Benefits form.

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When you’re trying to avoid foreclosure on your Southern Maryland home, a HAFA Realtor in Maryland can help. Here we’re going to go over all of the benefits of the HAFA program for homeowners in Maryland and explain just what the HAFA program is. It’s a new twist on short sales; when lenders agree to a short sale under the HAFA program they get u to $6,000 for approving it, and home owners get to keep their dignity and avoid unnecessary credit damage.

What is HAFA?

HAFA stands for “Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives”; it’s an FHA/HUD program that aims to help people who don’t qualify for the HAMP program (mortgage payment assistance) avoid foreclosures. Since it’s a twist on short sales, you’ll have to be nearing foreclosure or behind on your payments. A HAFA Realtor in Maryland will have experience with short sales and HAFA cases, helping you decide if it’s the right choice for you and your home.

One great thing about the HAFA program is it helps you rebuild your credit. Unlike traditional short sales the bank won’t be able to come after you for a delinquency judgment; if the lender agrees to a short sale of your home under HAFA and the sale price doesn’t pay your debt in total, they won’t be able to come after you for the remainder. A HAFA Realtor in Maryland will be able to help you get the best chance of completing a short sale.

Are HAFA Sales Hard?

A HAFA Realtor in Maryland will be able to help you fill out your paperwork; many short sales have died a slow death on the vine because the paperwork was incomplete or incorrectly completed. You need a good relationship with lenders and persistence to make sure that the loan officers get back to you on time. This is one of those times when a DIY approach will only hurt you in the end. If you want to be successful with the HAFA program you’re going to need an experienced HAFA Realtor in Maryland to help you get your case a fair hearing.

Why a HAFA Realtor in Maryland?

Almost any realtor can handle your HAFA home sale, right? A HAFA Realtor in Maryland (like me) will help you with your paperwork and has been through the process before. The last thing you want to do is trust your home to someone who just doesn’t know what they’re doing. While the HAFA program is a great alternative to foreclosure, there are stipulations. These include being delinquent on your payment or nearing default, owing no more than $729k on the principal of the loan and that the home is your main residence. A HAFA Realtor in Maryland will be able to help you decide if HAFA is the right course of action for your situation.

Every situation is different and without careful examination of your case it’s hard to know which path is right for you. I’m a HAFA Realtor in Maryland and if you’d like more information check out my Maryland HAFA information form.

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If you’re trying to decide whether or not you should do a short sale on your Southern Maryland home, you’re asking yourself “Will a short sale affect my credit?” When the choice between years of credit damage from a foreclosure and some derogatory credit from a short sale are your only two options, many choose to start seeking buyers for a short sale. Here we’re going to go over everything you need to know about credit scores and short sales, so let’s get started.

What is a Short Sale?

First things first, what is a short sale? In Southern Maryland short sales are becoming increasingly popular for people who are facing foreclosure. If you have more debt than you can repay, you’ll be able to get your lenders to accept selling your home for less than its worth. Getting the lenders to accept the short sale offer is the hard part, and that’s why you need a real estate agent who can list your home and get people to start putting down offers. If you can show the lender or bank that you have people interested in buying the property you have a much better chance of being successful and selling your home.

How Does a Short Sale Affect Your Credit?

Some say that a short sale drops your credit rating just about as much as a foreclosure, but your credit is really affected by how many days you’re late on your payments. If you keep paying your mortgage and stay below 30 days late or in arrears, you’ll be able to keep your credit intact. If you let your payments go 30 days or more, each 30 days will drop your score. A short sale can drop your score on average about 85 points, but 90 days late can be 135 points lost on your credit report. Each situation is different, and the faster that you can get it resolved the better the outcome.

Many choose a short sale so they can move into another house faster, and again this will depend on how far behind you are on your current payments. If you’ve been less than 60 days late in most cases you can get another FHA (Fannie Mae) loan and be in another house quick. A foreclosure on the other hand can drop your credit score by 160 points, and bankruptcy can bring it down 240 points. If you did get behind you may have to wait two years or more to get another home loan.

Is a Short Sale Worth It?

Short sales are a great way for many people to avoid foreclosure and significant damage to their credit, but there is always the chance that you won’t be able to find a borrower or the bank/lender won’t approve the short sale. Either way, a short sale almost always beats foreclosure. If you’d like more information about short sales, check out my short sale information page.

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You may have heard about short sales already, but if you live in Maryland you have another option open to you: Maryland HAFA Short Sales. HAFA or Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives is a program for those who want to avoid the foreclosure process. It differs from the popular HAMP program where you can get assistance to lower their monthly mortgage payments. The Maryland HAFA Short Sales program is for those who are near losing their home and want to settle their debts.

How to Qualify for the Maryland HAFA Short Sales Program

Since HAFA is a government programs, you have to meet certain criteria to get assistance:

• Your mortgage originated on or before January 1, 2009. If you signed the papers on the mortgage after this date, you won’t be able to qualify for the Maryland HAFA Short Sales program.
• The Home is your main residence; if this house is a rental property or a vacation property that you do not reside in more than six months out of the year, you won’t be eligible for the Maryland HAFA Short Sales program.
• You must be delinquent or be facing a default and/or foreclosure on your loan imminently (in the very near future).
• You must have unpaid principal debt balance (the original debt minus interest) less than $729,750 for a single unit property; so you can’t use the Maryland HAFA Short Sales program to save an apartment complex you own, for example.
• Your mortgage payment(s) exceed 31% of your gross (before tax) income.

If you meet all of these criteria, a Maryland HAFA Short Sales mortgage modification might be in your future. As long as your loan wasn’t owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and isn’t a second mortgage, you should qualify. But what are the benefits of a Maryland HAFA Short Sales mortgage modification?

Benefits of Maryland HAFA Short Sales Program

The Maryland HAFA Short Sales program has many benefits like helping you avoid foreclosure and salvaging your credit. Short sales can take a long time, but the Maryland HAFA Short Sales program gives lenders a $6,000 incentive to accept your offer and help you avoid foreclosure. Almost every major lender is a participant in the program, so your lender may be willing to go forward.

In some cases you may even be eligible to receive a $3,000 bonus for selling your home through a short sale under the Maryland HAFA Short Sales program. The program also prevents a deficiency judgement against you once the short sale is complete; a deficiency judgment is when a bank takes you to court for the difference between what you owe and what the house sells for under a short sale. You’ll be able to rebuild your credit and your life, avoid foreclosure and avoid the ax coming down on you with the banks trying to recoup their losses.

The Maryland HAFA Short Sales program is there for homeowners who need it; fill out my Maryland HAFA short sales information form and see what it can do for you.

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Navigating a short sale is tough! You have to make sure you can wrangle the banks and your lenders, and you also have to make sure everyone comes to an agreement. With the right negotiator at your side you’ll be able to settle your debts and save your dignity.

There are many agents out there who say they’re short sale experts, but you need a short sale listing agent that can help you through the process. You want someone who’s going to fight for you, to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible, and best of all someone who knows what they’re doing!

Experienced Short Sale Agents

When hiring a short sale agent in Southern Maryland it’s important that they’ve handled at least 10 short sales directly; it’s great if their firm has experience, but they need experience dealing with the banks. This comes in handy when you’re completing your paperwork and trying to get both banks and lenders to call you back; it just makes the short sale experience that much easier.

Say No to Upfront Fees

If any Southern Maryland Real Estate Agent or Short Sales Agent asks you for upfront fees, walk the other way. The bank handles those fees as part of a short sale so you don’t have to. If you’re asked to pay, find a new agent.

It’s About Who You Know as a Short Sale Agent

Finding the right Short Sale Agent in Southern Maryland is all about their contacts are. When you’re dealing with a short sale, the agent handling your case will need to have contacts within the bank. They’re going to need to be able to call on friends to make sure that your case doesn’t land in the bottom of the pile, and most of all make sure that the process doesn’t turn into a nightmare. The agent you settle on

Avoid Investors and Specialists

If you can’t meet with who will be handling your case, you shouldn’t be working with them. You need a direct connection with the agent so you can ask them any questions you may have. Investors want to get the best price for THEM so they can sell it to you at a high profit. Short sales can be extremely fast paced and unfortunately there are just so many people out there willing to take advantage of those trying to sell short sale homes.

You shouldn’t have to pay extra to be treated with respect. You’ll want to make sure that the agent you hire stays with you and handles your case all the way through. You want to make sure that the agent also has all the business connections you need to have a good short sale, and most importantly you shouldn’t have to pay up front fees for any company or agent.

With Southern Maryland being such a hard market to break into, you can’t go it alone and hope to succeed. Check out my free short sale information form and find out if a short sale is right for your situation.

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Short sale politics can be hard enough on you without worrying about ramifications on your credit, but if you’re getting a bad deal on your debt and sale price it can be even more devastating. You can (and should!) negotiate with the banks to make sure they accept the short sale, but you’ll need professional help. This is where a real estate agent can come in handy! Here we’re going to go over why short sales don’t always work out, and how you make sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.

Is a Short Sale Right For You?

Before we go into how the negotiation process works, you need to be certain that a short sale is the right choice for your future. While you don’t have to be in default to qualify for a short sale, it can have a derogatory effect on your credit report for some time after the sale has been completed. If you want to be able to buy a home and qualify for a FHA loan down the road, a short sale can be a great thing! You’ll want to get the lenders on your side and show them that they’ll get more for the cost of a short sale than they would if they just let the home slip into foreclosure.

Since qualifying for a short sale is really up to the bank, you’ll have to be relentless and make sure the deal works out in your favor. With the right agent your paperwork is more likely to go through, and they’re more likely to return you calls and hurry the process along.

Why Short Sale Negotiations Fall Through

• Prepare for Failure: If your home is about to fall into foreclosure, you need to ask for your case to be escalated; if you can’t prove that you’re going through a hardship like a foreclosure or debt, you may not be able to get the bank to agree to a short sale.
• It’s going to be tough: With a short sale you have to hope that the banks and lenders will cooperate with the process; sometimes they will just make more money by letting the home slip into foreclosure.
• Bad paperwork leads to bad results: You will need to make sure that your file is complete so they (the bank) have everything they need to give your case a fair evaluation.
• Make your case: If friends or neighbors have gone through short sales at the amount you’re asking for. Let the bank know that they can get more money from a short sale than from foreclosure. Make the case that every day the house sits vacant is another day that they’re losing money.

Even if you can get your case to the negotiating table, you’re going to want to have someone who understands how short sales work to get you a fair deal. Click on the link to fill out my free short sale information form.

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