What Does It Cost to Sell a House in Harford County, MD?

by Josh Tessier

The short answer: Most sellers pay agent commission (always negotiable), their share of transfer and recordation taxes, title and settlement fees, their mortgage payoff, and any help they give the buyer. Harford County's transfer tax is 1%, its recordation tax is $6.60 per $1,000, and Maryland's transfer tax is 0.5%. Call me at (443) 617-2099 for your real numbers.

By Josh Tessier, Lee Tessier Team of eXp Realty. 500+ homes sold personally (5,800+ for the Lee Tessier Team)

Most people only think about the sale price. But what matters is what lands in your bank account. Here's every cost, in plain words, using rates I checked on official Maryland and Harford County pages in November 2026.

Seller Costs at a Glance

Cost	What it is	Rate or who sets it
Agent commission	What you pay the agents	Always negotiable. Agreed in writing up front.
Harford County transfer tax	Tax when a property changes hands	1% of the price
Harford County recordation tax	Tax to record the deed	$6.60 per $1,000
Maryland state transfer tax	State tax when a property changes hands	0.5% of the price (0.25% for qualifying first-time Maryland buyers)
Title and settlement fees	In Maryland, a licensed title company handles the closing	Set by the title company. Not regulated, so fees differ by company.
Mortgage payoff	What you still owe	Your lender's payoff letter
Concessions	Help you agree to give the buyer	Whatever you negotiate

Who Pays the Transfer and Recordation Taxes?

Maryland law says that unless your contract says something else, the buyer and seller split the transfer and recordation taxes evenly.

There's one big exception. If your buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the home:

The state transfer tax drops to 0.25%, and the seller pays all of it.
The seller also pays all of the county transfer tax and recordation tax, unless the contract says they won't.

A first-time Maryland home buyer means someone who has never owned a home in Maryland as their main home. Every buyer on the deal has to qualify, with a narrow exception for a co-signer who won't live there. So ask early whether your buyer is a first-time Maryland buyer. It can change your costs.

A Simple Example

This is a made-up example, not a market price. Say a home sells for $400,000 and the taxes are split evenly:

County transfer tax (1%): $4,000
County recordation tax ($6.60 per $1,000): $2,640
State transfer tax (0.5%): $2,000
Total: $8,640, so the seller's half is $4,320

Harford County law also exempts the first $30,000 of the price from the county transfer tax when the buyer will live in the home as a principal residence (Harford County Code Â§ 123-50), so the real county number is often a bit lower. Your title company figures the real numbers and applies any exemptions you qualify for.

Extra Steps in Aberdeen, Bel Air and Havre de Grace

Harford County has to stamp every deed before it can be recorded. If your home is inside Aberdeen, Bel Air or Havre de Grace, the town stamps the deed first. Your settlement company handles this, but it's good to know why it's there. The county also needs a lien certificate before a property can transfer.

Agent Commission

Commission is negotiable. There's no set rate. Ask any agent exactly what they charge, what you get for it, and get it in writing. I go over this with every seller before we sign anything.

My advice

Don't pick an agent only by the lowest fee. Pick by what you'll net. A better price and fewer repair credits can easily outweigh a small fee difference. Ask me for a net sheet and I'll show you the math on your house.

Cost to Sell FAQ

How much is transfer tax in Harford County?

Harford County's transfer tax is 1% of the price. The county also charges a recordation tax of $6.60 per $1,000. On top of that, Maryland charges a state transfer tax of 0.5%, or 0.25% for qualifying first-time Maryland buyers. Your title company figures the exact amounts.

Who pays transfer tax in Maryland, the buyer or the seller?

By law, they split it evenly unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the home, the seller pays the state transfer tax at 0.25%. The seller also pays the county taxes unless the contract says otherwise.

Is real estate commission negotiable in Maryland?

Yes. Commission is always negotiable. There's no set rate. Talk about it before you sign a listing agreement, and get the terms in writing. Ask what services come with the fee so you can compare agents fairly.

What are seller closing costs in Bel Air, MD?

Bel Air sellers pay the same county and state taxes as the rest of Harford County, plus title and settlement fees and their mortgage payoff. Bel Air also stamps the deed before the county does. Your settlement company handles that step.

How do I find out what I'll walk away with?

Ask for a net sheet. I'll estimate your sale price from recent sales near you, then subtract commission, taxes, settlement fees, your payoff and any concessions. Call or text me at (443) 617-2099.

Get Your Net Sheet

Call or text me at (443) 617-2099 or email Joshua@leetessier.com. See how selling with me works, get a free home value, or check our recent sales. Watch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshTalksHarford