6 common questions, each with a short answer first, then the details and the official sources.
Nick Jungmarker, REALTOR® · Long & Foster · Last reviewed
Short answer
No. Maryland does not require a buyer's attorney; a licensed title company usually handles settlement, and you can choose and compare title companies.
No. Maryland does not require buyers to hire their own attorney; settlements are usually run by a licensed title company, which searches title, conducts the closing, records the deed and pays off liens. You choose the title company, and its settlement fees are not regulated, so you can compare quotes. You can still hire a Maryland real estate attorney to review the contract or a complicated deal. General information, not legal advice; confirm with a Maryland attorney.
Related: Maryland First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: What You Can Get and How It Works · Buying a Home in Maryland or Washington, DC · First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland & DC
Short answer
No set amount. A broker must put your deposit in a trust account within 7 business days of contract acceptance and release it only per the law.
Maryland law does not set an amount; the deposit is whatever you and the seller agree to in the contract. If a broker holds it, the broker must place it in a separate trust account within 7 business days after both parties accept the contract and may not use it for anything else. If the deal falls apart, the broker releases it only with written instructions from both parties, a court order, or a written notice process that either side can block by protesting within 30 days. Read the contingency deadlines in your contract, because they decide who is entitled to the deposit. General information, not legal advice; confirm with a Maryland attorney.
Related: Buying a Home in Maryland or Washington, DC · First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland & DC
Short answer
Usually. Most Maryland resale sellers give a disclosure or an as-is disclaimer, and must still disclose known latent defects that threaten health or safety.
Yes, in part. For most resale homes with 1 to 4 units, the seller must give you either a property condition disclosure statement or a disclaimer statement (selling as is), and even with the disclaimer the seller must disclose known latent defects that threaten health or safety. You should receive it on or before signing the contract. If you did not, you can cancel in writing before you receive it or within 5 days after, and get your deposit back, though lender notices can end that right sooner. Disclosure is not a substitute for a home inspection. General information, not legal advice; confirm with a Maryland attorney.
Related: Buying a Home in Maryland or Washington, DC · Selling a Home in Maryland or Washington, DC
Short answer
Condo resale: 7 days after you receive all resale documents. HOA: 5 calendar days after receiving disclosures if not given 5 days before signing.
For a condo resale, you can cancel without penalty within 7 days after you receive all of the required resale information. For a home in an HOA, if you did not get the HOA disclosures at least 5 calendar days before signing, you have 5 calendar days after receiving them to cancel in writing, plus 3 calendar days after notice of certain later changes, such as a fee increase over 10%. In both cases the right ends at settlement. Read the budget, reserves, rules and any special assessments during that window. General information, not legal advice; confirm with a Maryland attorney.
Related: Buying a Home in Maryland or Washington, DC · First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland & DC · Condo Fees vs HOA Fees in Maryland (2026): What They Cover, Reserve Studies, Resale Documents and FHA/VA Approval
Short answer
No, it is optional but recommended. Maryland home inspectors must be state licensed, and pre-1978 homes come with a 10-day lead paint test window.
No, a home inspection is optional in Maryland, but it is strongly recommended, and the seller's disclosure form itself tells buyers it is not a substitute for one. Maryland home inspectors must be licensed by the State Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, AMCs and Home Inspectors, so check the license before you hire. For homes built before 1978, federal rules give you a 10-day opportunity to test for lead-based paint unless you waive it in the contract. Radon testing is a separate test you can add. General information, not legal advice; confirm with a Maryland attorney.
Related: Buying a Home in Maryland or Washington, DC · First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland & DC
Short answer
Your contract sets the date. Lenders must give you the Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing; cash deals can close faster.
The settlement date is whatever you and the seller write into the contract, and it is usually set around how long your lender, appraisal and title work need. Cash purchases can close faster because there is no loan approval. Federal rules require you to receive your Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing on most mortgages, so plan for that. Condo and HOA review periods and any contingency deadlines also affect the timeline. General information, not legal advice; confirm with a Maryland attorney.
Related: Buying a Home in Maryland or Washington, DC · First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland & DC
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General information, not legal, tax, or lending advice. Laws, rates, and program rules change; confirm with the official source or a Maryland professional. Facts checked October 27, 2026.