We Buy Houses for Cash Across Howard County, Maryland

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Howard County has no incorporated cities or towns. Everything from Columbia to Lisbon is governed by the county. On the east side, it’s Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge and the US 1 and I-95 corridor. On the west side, it’s farms, horse country and houses on well and septic around Glenwood, Glenelg, Dayton and Lisbon. I’m Evan Weissman. I buy Howard County houses for cash as-is, and as a licensed agent I’ll list yours when that nets more.

Call or text (410) 498-7473, or request a cash offer.

Howard Communities I Cover

East and central Howard:

Columbia, which opened at Wilde Lake in 1967 and grew into ten villages, including Oakland Mills, Long Reach, Owen Brown, Harper’s Choice, Kings Contrivance and River Hill
Ellicott City, from the stone and frame houses on historic Main Street to the subdivisions off US 40, MD 99 and Centennial Lane
Elkridge, with older homes near the Patapsco and newer townhome sections along US 1
North Laurel, Savage, Jessup and Scaggsville in the southeast corner
Clarksville, Fulton, Maple Lawn and Highland along MD 108 and US 29

Western Howard: Glenwood, Glenelg, Dayton, Cooksville, Lisbon, West Friendship and Woodstock. The Howard side of Woodbine and Marriottsville has its own pages, and so does Mount Airy, where four counties meet. North of the Patapsco is the Carroll County page, along with my Westminster page.

Town and community pages in Howard County:

I’ll look at almost any house: single-family, townhome, row, twin, or multi-family, any age, any condition, any situation.

Early Columbia Houses Have Their Own List

Columbia’s first villages are now fifty-plus years old. Those houses often have contemporary designs with cedar or T1-11 siding, original sliding doors, flat or low-slope roofs on some models, and HVAC systems replaced only once. On top of county rules, Columbia homeowners pay the Columbia Association annual charge and follow village architectural covenants, so a buyer will ask for the village resale paperwork. See HOA resale documents and the Columbia selling guide.

Ellicott City Flood History

Historic Ellicott City flooded badly in 2016 and again in 2018, and the county has spent years on flood-control projects since. Houses along the Tiber and Hudson branches, or anywhere with past water damage, raise questions for buyers and their insurers. You must disclose flood history you know about. I buy those houses as they are. See selling in a flood zone.

Western Howard: Wells, Septic and Acreage

West of US 29, most homes have a private well and septic system, many on lots of an acre or more, with barns, paddocks and long driveways. Lenders and buyers will ask for a water test and a septic inspection, and an older system or a failed perc can stall a financed sale. With a cash sale to me, there’s no lender requirement.

Howard County Settlement Numbers

When a Howard house sells, the deed carries three taxes:

County transfer tax: 1.25%
State transfer tax: 0.5%
Recordation tax: $2.50 per $500

The split depends on your contract, and the title company calculates the exact numbers.

Estates, Tax Sale and Other Situations

Howard estates open at the Register of Wills inside the Circuit Courthouse, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, Ellicott City (410-313-2133). The county’s 2026 tax sale was June 3. Other pages that may help: inherited houses, behind on property taxes, selling as-is, rentals with tenants and divorce.

Three Ways to Sell in Howard County

Option 1: A straightforward cash purchase

I buy the house myself, as it is. No repairs, no showings, no commission on my own purchase, and you pick the closing date.

Option 2: List on the open market with me

Updated homes in Howard’s east and central communities often draw strong interest. If yours is ready, I’ll list it under a written agreement, and I’ll be honest about the commission and the timeline.

Option 3: Renovate and Sell Together

Where it fits, Evan can handle and pay for the updates under a written agreement, then sell on the open market. The cost of that work is repaid at settlement. You keep ownership until the sale. There is no guaranteed sale price or profit. Review any agreement with your own attorney before you sign.

I renovate most houses I buy with my own crew, and if I partner with another local buyer on yours, I’ll tell you before you sign.

Side-by-side paths: cash offer vs listing in Maryland.

Behind on Mortgage Payments

If you are behind on your mortgage or facing foreclosure, start with free help before you decide anything. A HUD-approved housing counselor costs nothing and can walk you through options with your servicer, such as catching up, a repayment plan, forbearance, or a loan modification. The Maryland HOPE hotline, 1-877-462-7555, connects homeowners with those counselors. If you have court papers or a sale date, I also recommend talking with a Maryland attorney. I can’t promise to stop a foreclosure, and I won’t pressure you. If you and your counselor decide a sale makes sense, I’ll put a cash number next to a listing plan so you can compare. More here: behind on mortgage or facing foreclosure.

Neighboring Counties

Howard borders Carroll County, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County and Frederick County. For a deeper read, see the Howard County selling guide.

Helpful guides for Howard County sellers

Does Howard County have any incorporated towns?

No. Columbia, Ellicott City and the other communities are all governed by the county.

Do you buy older Columbia houses that still have original siding and windows?

Yes. That’s one of the most common types of house I see in Howard County.

Will you buy a house in Ellicott City with past flood damage?

Yes. Disclose what you know, and I’ll account for it in my offer.

What transfer taxes apply to a Howard County sale?

A 1.25% county transfer tax, the state’s 0.5% and recordation of $2.50 per $500. The contract sets who pays what.

Where are Howard County estates opened?

At the Register of Wills, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, in Ellicott City. Their number is 410-313-2133.

Do you buy farms and acreage in western Howard?

Yes, including homes with wells, septic systems and outbuildings.

Next Step

Start my offer. Prefer to talk? (410) 498-7473.

Real Estate Wanted, based in Hampstead, MD 21074, buying houses in Howard County and across Maryland.

Evan Weissman, MD License #664574, eXp Realty, LLC. When Real Estate Wanted makes you a cash offer, we are buying for our own investment and I am not acting as your agent. If you list with me, I represent you under a written listing agreement. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.