How do I sell an abandoned house in Prince George's County?

If you own a house in Prince George's County, MD and you are dealing with vacant property, this page covers what actually happens next — the local timeline, what it costs, and the options that stay open to you. Everything below is specific to Prince George's County and how sales are handled in MD, not generic national advice.

Direct Answer Selling an abandoned house in Prince George's County requires a specific process that focuses on clearing the property title and complying with the county's strict Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) regulations. You must ensure the property is registered as vacant, resolve any outstanding code violations or tax liens, and choose a sale method—such as an 'as-is' cash sale or a traditional listing—that fits the home's current physical condition. ## Key Details In Prince George's County, an 'abandoned' house is usually legally classified as a vacant property. The first major hurdle is confirming your legal right to sell. If you inherited the property, you must ensure the estate has been probated through the Prince George's County Register of Wills in Upper Marlboro. Once ownership is clear, you must address the property's status with the county. The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) tracks vacant buildings to prevent neighborhood blight. If a house sits empty, the county requires the owner to register it and pay an annual fee. Selling a house in this state often involves dealing with 'clouds' on the title. These can include unpaid property taxes, water bill liens from WSSC Water, or 'Clean Lot' liens where the county paid to cut the grass or remove trash. Most buyers of abandoned homes are real estate investors who purchase 'as-is,' meaning they take the house in its current messy or broken state. This is often faster than a traditional sale because these buyers use cash and do not require the house to pass a standard bank inspection, which most abandoned homes would fail. However, you will likely receive a lower price than if the home were renovated. ## MD-Specific Laws Maryland law has several statutes that directly impact the sale of distressed or vacant real estate. One critical law is the Maryland Residential Property Disclosure and Disclaimer Act (Maryland Code, Real Property Section 10-702). This law requires sellers to either disclose known defects or, more commonly for abandoned houses, provide a 'disclaimer' that states the seller makes no warranties about the condition of the property. This protects you from future lawsuits as long as you do not hide known, latent defects. Another important legal concept is Adverse Possession (Maryland Code, Real Property Section 14-108). In Maryland, a person must occupy a property for 20 years to claim ownership through adverse possession. If your property has been abandoned for a long time, you should check to ensure no unauthorized individuals have established a legal claim, though 20 years is a very high bar. Tax sales are also a major factor in Maryland. Under Maryland Code, Tax-Property Section 14-808, if property taxes are not paid, the county can sell the tax lien at an annual auction. If this has happened, you must 'redeem' the property by paying the back taxes plus interest before you can sell it to someone else. The redemption period generally lasts for six months after the tax sale before a buyer can start the process to foreclose on your right of redemption. ## Prince George's County Local Context Prince George's County is particularly aggressive about property maintenance through its 'Clean Lot Program.' Under County Subtitle 13, the DPIE can issue citations if the grass is over 12 inches high or if there is accumulated trash. If the owner does not fix the problem, the county sends a contractor to do the work and bills the owner. If the bill is not paid, it becomes a tax lien against the property. The county also mandates Vacant Property Registration (Subtitle 13, Section 13-1125.02). Owners must register a vacant residential property within 30 days of it becoming empty. The current registration fee is typically $200, and failure to register can lead to fines of up to $1,000. These enforcement actions are handled through the DPIE office located in Largo, MD. If you are selling an abandoned home, you must check the DPIE 'Property Standards' database to see if there are any open 'Violation Notices.' A title company will find these during their search, and they must be paid off at the closing table from your sale proceeds. Furthermore, Prince George's County has a specific process for 'Blighted' properties, which can sometimes be seized through eminent domain if they are deemed a threat to public safety, though this is a last resort for the county. ## What You Can Do Right Now To start the selling process today, you should follow these steps: First, verify the title. Visit the Maryland Land Records website (MDLANDREC.NET) to ensure the deed is in your name and check for any recorded liens. Second, contact the Prince George's County Office of Finance to get a full statement of all unpaid taxes and municipal liens. Third, visit the DPIE website to confirm if the property is registered as vacant and to see if there are outstanding code violations. Fourth, secure the property. Board up broken windows and change the locks to prevent squatters or vandalism, which could lead to further county fines. Fifth, decide on your sale strategy. If the house needs major repairs (like a new roof or plumbing), contact a local real estate agent who specializes in 'fixer-uppers' or reach out to reputable real estate investment firms in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area to get an all-cash sale. Finally, prepare for a 'Disclaimer' sale, which is the standard for abandoned properties in Prince George's County to minimize your legal liability for the home's condition.