Maryland Home Loans
Maryland Mortgages From the Chesapeake to the Mountains
Maryland packs rowhouse cities, high-value D.C. suburbs, beach towns and Appalachian valleys into one compact state. From Baltimore rowhouses to Montgomery County colonials and Eastern Shore farmhouses, The Smith Mortgage Group funds Maryland purchases with VA, jumbo, FHA, USDA and conventional loans, and Sterling Smith stays your contact from pre-qualification to closing.
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Local Expertise, Nationwide Strength
Mortgage Help for Every Corner of Maryland
Few states change character as quickly as Maryland. A modest drive can take you from a Baltimore rowhouse to a Montgomery County colonial or a farmhouse on the Eastern Shore, and the right loan changes along with the setting. Our 50-state license through FCM covers every Maryland county, and Sterling Smith keeps your file personally, replying inside two business hours. A pre-qualification is the easy first step, and it skips the hard credit inquiry. We know Maryland closings carry their own taxes and quirks.
Maryland's large federal and military workforce makes VA loans a frequent choice, while higher-cost suburbs near Washington often call for jumbo financing. On the Eastern Shore and in western Maryland, USDA and FHA loans open doors for many buyers. Each option gets measured against what you want, and we target closing within the usual 30–45 days. See every market we cover on our areas we serve page. Buyers relocating for federal jobs or military orders can start the process remotely before arriving. Pre-approval decisions often come back within a day.
Start your Maryland pre-approval →Where We Lend
Maryland metro areas we serve
- Baltimore Historic rowhouse neighborhoods, waterfront communities and suburbs like Towson, Columbia and Ellicott City, anchored by Johns Hopkins, major hospital systems and the Port of Baltimore. Baltimore mortgages →
- Frederick A historic, growing city between Baltimore and D.C., home to Fort Detrick, with a revitalized downtown along Carroll Creek and new communities in Urbana and Walkersville. Frederick mortgages →
- Hagerstown Where I-70 crosses I-81 in the Cumberland Valley, Hagerstown pairs gentler prices with farmland and old towns such as Boonsboro and Williamsport. Hagerstown mortgages →
- Salisbury The Eastern Shore's hub on the Delmarva Peninsula, home to Salisbury University and close to Ocean City, with farmland, small towns and beach-area properties for second-home buyers. Salisbury mortgages →
- Suburban Maryland Montgomery and Prince George's County suburbs such as Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville and Bowie, where federal jobs, biotech employers and Metro access drive steady demand. Suburban Maryland mortgages →
Buying in Maryland
Maryland-Specific Considerations for Buyers
Maryland settlements often carry state and county transfer and recordation taxes that differ from one county to the next, so set that money aside early. First-time Maryland buyers can sometimes get part of certain taxes waived. In Baltimore City, a small share of homes still carry ground rent, an old arrangement where the land is leased separately from the house; your title company should identify it. Use our mortgage payment calculator to plan your monthly costs.
Geography matters too. Waterfront and low-lying properties around the Chesapeake Bay and on the Eastern Shore may sit in flood zones and fall under critical area development rules. Older homes across the state may contain lead paint, and Maryland has its own lead rules for rental properties. Military buyers near Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Joint Base Andrews and Fort Detrick often start with VA financing. Maryland and county programs sometimes chip in toward upfront costs, and we will see whether yours is one of the files that fits.
Loan Programs
Loan Programs That Work in Maryland
VA loans for Maryland's military community
With installations from Aberdeen Proving Ground to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland is home to many service members and veterans. Eligible Maryland borrowers using VA financing usually need no down payment and pay no monthly mortgage insurance, and FCM tacks on no lender fees. Eligibility and underwriting apply.
Jumbo loans in the D.C. suburbs
Homes in Bethesda, Potomac and other higher-value areas can exceed conforming limits. Jumbo financing handles the bigger balances common near D.C., usually asking for stronger credit, deeper reserves and more cash down. We price jumbo setups next to conforming alternatives so you can choose with real numbers. We'll talk through reserve needs up front.
USDA loans on the Eastern Shore and in western Maryland
Country stretches of the Eastern Shore, southern Maryland and western Maryland may sit inside USDA boundaries, where eligible buyers can finance with nothing down. Household income has to stay under the cap and the home has to be in a qualifying zone, subject to underwriting. We'll check any rural address you're considering.
Answers
Maryland mortgage FAQs
What closing costs are unique to Maryland?
Expect state and county transfer and recordation taxes, whose rates shift by county and whose split between buyer and seller is usually negotiated in the contract. First-time buyers may get a partial break. We'll show these costs on your Loan Estimate so there are no surprises.
What is ground rent in Baltimore?
Ground rent is a historic arrangement where the homeowner owns the house but leases the land beneath it, paying a small annual rent. It still exists on some Baltimore-area properties. Title work will flag any ground rent, and plenty of Baltimore owners buy it out. Ask us how it may affect your loan.
Can I use a VA loan near Fort Meade or Joint Base Andrews?
Yes. Eligible service members and veterans may buy anywhere in the state with it, whether near Fort Meade, Joint Base Andrews, Aberdeen Proving Ground or Fort Detrick. Yes. A VA purchase typically needs nothing down, and FCM adds no lender fees.
Are parts of Maryland eligible for USDA loans?
Yes, many rural areas of the Eastern Shore, southern Maryland and western Maryland may qualify. The property address and your household income decide eligibility. Before you bid on a Maryland property, we will run it against the current USDA maps. Rural Garrett and Allegany counties may be options too.
Do you have an office in Maryland?
Our only physical branch is in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Maryland files run on phone calls, texts, email and secure online uploads, with Sterling Smith as your single point of contact start to finish. Call 931-205-9873 or write to sterling.smith@fcmhomeloans.com from anywhere in Maryland. Documents are signed electronically where permitted.
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