If you’re looking for a place to invest in real estate, Maryland is a great option. The state surrounds Washington D.C., drawing housing demand from government and military workers nationwide and short-term rental demand from tourists worldwide. Plus, Maryland borders both sides of Chesapeake Bay, the largest U.S. estuary, offering ample waterfront real estate.
ABL has been working with Maryland real estate investors since 2011. Whether you’re investing in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Cecil, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, or Prince George’s counties, we offer fast, flexible financing to get your project off the ground.
Maryland Housing Market Snapshot
Before diving into the best places to buy real estate in Maryland right now, let’s take a look at how the state’s housing market is performing as a whole.
In March 2025, housing unit sales reached 4,823, a 10% drop from last year.
This comes on the back of gradually rising home values. In March 2025, the median home sales price was $420,000, up from $405,000 last year (a 3.7% jump).
Meanwhile, Maryland’s active housing inventory is contracting. It went from 11,699 in March 2024 to 11,173 in March 2025.
One thing that hasn’t changed: Maryland is still a seller’s market. Its months of supply (the time it would take to sell off active inventory at the current sales rate) was 2.0 in March 2025, slightly down from 2.1 last year. Anything under 6 months is considered a seller’s market, while anything over 6 months is considered a buyer’s market.
That said, you can still find good real estate deals in Maryland—if you know where to look. The Maryland ABL team knows the ins and outs of the market and can help you find, fund, fix, and flip the perfect property. Alternatively, we can help you buy and hold for the long term with one of our DSCR rental loans. Contact one of our loan experts today to learn more!
Here are the top five Maryland counties to buy real estate right now:
1. Baltimore City
Though not technically a county, Baltimore’s independent city government is considered on par with Maryland’s 23 other counties. It’s also the most populous city in Maryland, with a 2024 population of over 568,000.
In March 2025, Baltimore City had 617 home sales, the second-highest level of any Maryland county. Furthermore, the city had an active inventory of 980. As a result, Baltimore offers a relatively ample selection for real estate investors.
While Baltimore’s months of supply has tightened over the last year (from 3.5 in March 2024 to 3.0 in March 2025), it’s still higher than the state average (2.0), giving buyers more negotiation power than they have in most other Maryland counties. And with fast funding from ABL, you’ll have an edge over any buyer competition.
2. Prince George’s County
Bordering Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County is the second-most populous county in Maryland, with over 966,000 residents in 2024. As a result, it also has a large real estate inventory. In March 2025, there were 1,314 homes for sale and 591 units sold.
Meanwhile, Prince George’s County home values haven’t budged since last year. In March 2025 and in March 2024, the median home sales price was $435,000. This means now may be a good time to buy before property values start rising again (as they generally do in the long run). At ABL, our hard money loans close in as few as 10 days, so you can seize opportunities fast.
3. Montgomery County
Montgomery County is the most populous Maryland county with over 1.08 million residents. It borders the rest of the Washington, D.C. perimeter that Prince George’s County and the Potomac River don’t.
With all the housing demand from those who work in the nation’s capital, home values are high here. In March 2025, the median home sales price was $610,000, higher than any other Maryland county. At the same time, the county also had the highest home sales statewide at 659 units sold. If you want to buy in a market where inventory moves fast, Montgomery is a good choice. Be prepared to act quickly by pre-qualifying for an ABL hard money loan today.
4. Baltimore County
Not to be confused with Baltimore City, Baltimore County comprises much of the area that surrounds Baltimore City. As a result, it offers proximity to urban amenities and jobs but with more affordable housing. In March 2025, the median home sales price here was $352,000.
Meanwhile, Baltimore County had 598 home sales and an active inventory of 980. So if you want to invest in an active, suburban housing market—whether by flipping, building, or buying and holding real estate—Baltimore County has much to offer.
5. Charles County
Located south of Washington, D.C. and along the Potomac River, Charles County has a smaller real estate market with only about 175,000 residents. However, it’s relatively active for its size. In March 2025, the county had 185 home sales and an active inventory of 421.
While much of Charles County is rural land bordering the Potomac River, its biggest city Waldorf is less than an hour from Washington, D.C., drawing many commuters. As a result, it’s another market with ample housing demand that you can capitalize on as a real estate investor.
Partner with ABL
Now that you know the best Maryland markets to buy real estate, it’s time to take the next step: secure funding. At ABL, we’ve financed fix-and-flip, new construction, cash-out refinance, and rental investments nationwide since 2010. Pre-qualify for funding today!
Methodology
To determine the best Maryland counties for buying real estate right now, we ranked all 23 of the state’s counties (excluding Worcester County) and Baltimore City by the highest number of housing units sold, the lowest appreciation rate over the last year (to maximize your potential of buying at a discount), the highest active inventory level, and the highest months of supply. Based on this, we gave each county a composite score and ranked them accordingly.
All Maryland county real estate data was taken from Maryland REALTORS®, and all county population data was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau.