Baltimore County, Maryland

Tax Lien852,425 residents

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Tax Lien

Redemption periodstate default

6 months minimum before foreclosure action can start; up to 1 year+

Investor returnstate default

6–24% per annum, varies by county

Governing statutestate default

Maryland Tax-Property Code Title 14

Notes

Maryland tax-certificate (lien) sale — not an immediate deed. Baltimore County Office of Budget and Finance / Collector runs an annual online sealed-bid style tax sale. 2026 Collector’s sale set for August 27, 2026 (registration ~July 27–August 7). Purchaser pays taxes/charges/high-bid premium at sale; balance remains on credit until foreclosure of right of redemption. Owner may redeem after sale with interest.

Auction logistics

Format

Online (sealed-bid spreadsheet portal)

Frequency

Annually late August (2026: August 27; MD DAT schedule lists Baltimore County August 27th)

Platform

Baltimore County Budget & Finance — Tax Sale portal ↗

Deposit rules

Online registration required (~July 27–Aug 7, 2026, 4:30 p.m.). Nonrefundable $100 registration fee by ACH. Bids submitted Aug 27, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–noon ET via county bid portal (dollar or bid-factor spreadsheet). Day of sale: pay full taxes/charges/expenses plus high-bid premium (20% of amount by which bid exceeds 40% of assessed value) by ACH. Residue of purchase price on credit until foreclosure judgment; balance due within 10 days of judgment. Contact taxsale2026@baltimorecountymd.gov / 410-887-2404.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Tax sale certificate is a lien priority vehicle; foreclosure of right of redemption is required to obtain deed. Federal liens and certain interests can survive. Verify ground rents, HOA, and municipal liens before bidding.

Quiet title

After certificate, purchaser must timely file to foreclose right of redemption; title insurers typically require completed foreclosure (and often further review) before insuring.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Baltimore County Office of Budget and Finance — Taxpayer Services / Tax Sale ↗

Clerk of court

Baltimore County Circuit Court / Land Records ↗

Property appraiser

Maryland SDAT — Real Property Search (Baltimore County) ↗

GIS / parcel map

Baltimore County My Neighborhood / GIS maps ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

Towson

County seat employment and institutional demand with relatively tight inventory versus outer rings

White Marsh / Perry Hall corridor

Northeast suburban job access and family-buyer demand supporting steadier absorption into 2026

Owings Mills / Reisterstown Road edge

Northwest employment nodes and multifamily pipeline relative to softer outer exurbs