Relocating to Maryland or Washington, DC (2026): Rent or Buy First, Costs, Commuting and a Moving Timeline

There is no single right answer. It depends on how well you know the region, how firm your job location is, and how long you plan to stay.

• If you rent, check Maryland and DC deposit and lease rules in our renting guide, and try to match your lease end to the season you want to buy.
• If you buy, plan for the time to inspect, appraise and close, and line up temporary housing in case the dates shift.

• Deed taxes: DC charges 1.1% under $400,000 and 1.45% at $400,000 or more on each side. Maryland's state, county and recordation taxes vary by county, and first-time Maryland buyers get a state transfer tax break. See our closing cost guides for both.
• Buyer programs: DC offers larger help for eligible buyers (HPAP up to $202,000), while Maryland's statewide help is smaller and some counties add their own programs.
• Income tax: DC does not tax the wages of nonresidents, so a Maryland resident who works in DC generally pays Maryland state and county income tax instead.
• Property tax: in Maryland your bill combines a state rate with your county or Baltimore City rate, plus a town rate if you live in an incorporated municipality.
• Licensing: your agent must be licensed where the home is. Our team is licensed in Maryland and DC.

Commute times depend on the exact address, time of day and schedule changes, so test the trip you will actually make. These are the main regional systems:

• Metro (WMATA): the transit agency for the Washington region, running Metrorail and Metrobus, with rail stations in DC and nearby Maryland and Virginia.
• MARC Penn Line: runs mainly between Baltimore's Penn Station, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport station and Washington Union Station, with stops north to Perryville.
• MARC Camden Line: runs from Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore to Union Station, with stops including Dorsey, Laurel and College Park.
• MARC Brunswick Line: runs between Brunswick, Maryland and Union Station, with an extension to Frederick and Martinsburg, West Virginia.
• VRE (Virginia Railway Express): the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines run into Washington Union Station. Construction work has shifted some trips, so check current schedules.
• MTA Maryland also runs local bus, Light Rail and commuter bus service. Check schedules before you choose a neighborhood around a train.

We can do video walkthroughs and video calls so you can see homes and neighborhoods before you travel. Many buyers use video to narrow the list, then visit in person to see their top choices. Your lender, home inspector and title company can also work with you remotely for much of the process; ask each one how they handle documents and signing.

• Tell us your commute, budget and must-haves, and we will set up a search.
• Ask for a live video walkthrough, including the street, parking and the parts of the home photos do not show.
• Ask the title company early how settlement works if you cannot attend in person.
• Always confirm wiring instructions by phone with your title company at a number you already know.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm taxes with a CPA and loan options with a lender, and check transit agencies for current schedules.