Real Estate Directory - Maryland

Population: 5,508,909 (2003)
Capital city/population: Annapolis 36,178 (2003)
Largest cities/population:

  • Baltimore - 651,154
  • Columbia - 88,254
  • Silver Spring - 76,540
  • Dundalk - 62,306

(all 2000)

Maryland is the 42nd largest state, with a total area of 12,407 square miles. It achieved statehood on April 28, 1788. Maryland has no dry season, though there are some periods of drought. Annual rainfall varies from 36” – 48”, with the heaviest rains falling during the summer. The growing season ranges from 130 – 230 days. The highest point in Maryland is Backbone Mountain in Garrett County, at 3,360’ above sea level. The lowest point is Bloody Point Hole, a depression in Queen Anne’s County, at 174’ below sea level.

HOUSING

Baltimore - This city is centrally located between Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. Currently, Baltimore is undergoing resurgence in popularity, with several government-funded revitalization projects taking place; these projects have increased home buyer and investor interest levels. However, Baltimore still has a lower cost of living than comparable major cities. In the city, September had a median sold price of $120,000 for a single-family home, with an average of 43 days on the market. In the county, the median sold price was $244,000, with an average of 32 days on the market.

Columbia – The housing market in this community has shown some slowing. For September, 2005, agents report 186 homes sold, with 146 homes sold in October. Of those sold in October, prices ranged from $100,000 – the high $700,000s. Average days on the market were 21. Columbia is located between Baltimore and Washington D.C., with convenient access to international and regional airports.

Silver Spring – In the community, there are over 60 homes available in the $350,000 - $450,000 range and over 120 homes available in the $450,000 - $550,000 range. Agents report a slowing of the real estate market, with recently-built homes skyrocketing in price. This causes a hesitation among home buyers, and is leading to the slowdown.

Dundalk - The city has over 14,690 housing units at an average price of $100,811, with 66% of these owner-occupied. Rental units comprise 28% of this amount, renting for an average of $468. Vacancy is running at a rate of 6%.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Principal industries include manufacturing, biotechnology, information technology, and services. Manufactured goods include electric/electronic equipment, food, chemicals, and printed materials. Agricultural outputs include greenhouse/nursery products, soybeans, and corn. Total gross state product in 2003 was $212 billion, with a per capita income for that year of $37,446.

SCHOOLS

Maryland has developed a Voluntary State Curriculum, which defines what students should know and be able to perform at each grade level, PreK – Eighth in four content areas: Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. It also sets out specifications for tenth-grade reading. The student-teacher ratio for 1994 was 17:1, with an average teachers’ salary for 1995 of $41,215.

The major state-supported institution of higher learning is the University of Maryland, with campuses in College Park, Baltimore, and Princess Anne. Other public institutions include Towson State University, Salisbury State University, Morgan State University – Baltimore City, and St. Mary’s College. Maryland also opened the nation’s first school, King Williams, in 1696.

HISTORY

The first Europeans to visit the area arrived in 1524, landing in the Chesapeake region. One hundred years later, Charles I granted George Calvert feudal rights to the region, naming it after Henrietta Maria, queen consort of Charles.

Religious conflict grew as Puritans became more numerous in the colony. Toleration Acts were passed, but did not stave off a civil war in 1655, which the Puritans won.

At the time of the Revolution, most residents opposed British colonial policy, and the state sent soldiers and supplies to aid in the revolutionary effort. Industry was furthered by the skills of European immigrants.

With the onset of the Civil War, southern sympathies continued among the plantation owners, and the state experienced torn loyalties and struggles as a border state. Throughout the war, Maryland was the scene of many small battles.

As industrialization grew, a great influx of people came to the area, where shipbuilding and aircraft plants supplied materiel for world Wars I and II. Since that time, improvements in infrastructure have brought about many changes, as bridges, tunnels, and harbors have opened traffic paths.

RELIGION (2004)

  • Christian – 82%
    • Protestant – 56%
      • Baptist – 18%
      • Methodist – 11%
      • Lutheran – 5%
      • Episcopal – 3%
      • Other Protestant or general Protestant – 19%
    • Roman Catholic – 23%
    • Other Christian – 3%
  • Jewish – 3%
  • Other Religions – 1%
  • Non-Religious – 14%

DEMOGRAPHICS (2004)

The racial makeup of the state:

  • White non-Hispanic - 62.1%
  • Black - 27.9%
  • Hispanic - 4.3%
  • Asian - 4.0%
  • Native American - 0.3%
  • Mixed race - 2%