How to Assess Maryland’s Land Market in 2026

Maryland’s land market remains one of the most dynamic on the Eastern Seaboard, driven by proximity to Washington, D.C., strong job centers, and distinctive lifestyle demand—from Chesapeake Bay waterfront to Appalachian foothills. At the same time, today’s buyers and sellers must weigh a major modern constraint: large portions of Maryland acreage are now permanently conserved or restricted from development, which reshapes supply, pricing, and strategy across residential, commercial, and agricultural land.

On the pricing side, statewide agricultural land value data continues to provide a useful baseline for comparison across counties. Based on 2022 statewide agricultural land value survey data, average per-acre prices reached approximately $9,500 across Maryland’s counties, according to AcreValue (Maryland land values map).

Demand Drivers in Maryland Real Estate

Maryland land demand typically rises when households, employers, and infrastructure investment pull in the same direction. Key demand drivers include:

• Population and household formation: More residents and families increase housing needs and push builders to compete for entitled lots.
• Proximity to Washington, D.C.: Northern and central counties remain attractive for commuters and federal-adjacent employers, supporting demand for residential and mixed-use sites.
• Baltimore reinvestment: Neighborhood reinvestment and infill development can reduce pressure on fringe land in some areas while increasing demand in others (especially along key corridors).
• Tourism and second-home appeal: Coastal and mountain destinations continue to support demand for hospitality projects, recreation parcels, and lifestyle properties.
• Working lands and on-farm diversification: Maryland’s farm economy is increasingly tied to experiences and direct-to-consumer activity. In 2022, Maryland had 12,550 farms with an average acreage of 158 acres, and 54.4% of farms had less than 50 acres, according to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Agritourism Factsheet (citing 2022 Census of Agriculture). Smaller farm sizes can increase competition for well-located parcels and encourage creative income uses.

Key Factors Influencing Land Values

Land values in Maryland vary widely by county, zoning pathway, and buyer intent. These factors typically carry the most weight:

• Development potential and entitlements: Zoning, density, and feasibility (utilities, stormwater, access) can add or subtract substantial value.
• Access and exposure: Parcels near major highways, rail, ports, and employment centers often command premiums.
• Utilities and buildability: Public water/sewer availability, perc status, topography, and wetlands constraints drive pricing and timelines.
• Amenities: Waterfront, views, mature timber, and recreation potential can materially raise value—especially for “lifestyle” buyers.
• Lot size economics: Per-acre pricing often increases as lot sizes shrink in high-demand suburbs, even when total purchase price remains manageable.
• Conservation and preservation status: Easements and conservation programs can restrict development rights, affecting highest-and-best-use value while stabilizing long-term land character.

How Conservation and Preservation Are Reshaping Supply

Maryland’s land market is increasingly defined by what cannot be developed. State preservation and conservation benchmarks are materially limiting the pool of developable acreage, particularly in growth-adjacent rural counties.

• In fiscal 2024, 14,012 acres of agricultural land were preserved under MALPP—the highest number since fiscal 2003—according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture Capital Budget Analysis FY 2026.
• In fiscal 2024, only 3,833 acres of agricultural land were converted to development—the lowest since fiscal 2020—per the Maryland Department of Agriculture Capital Budget Analysis FY 2026.
• As of September 2024, approximately 904,800 acres of agricultural land have been preserved, representing 88% of the 1,030,000-acre goal by 2030, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture Capital Budget Analysis FY 2026.
• As of 2024, 1,871,462 acres of Maryland land have been conserved—75.6% of the 2,475,852-acre goal (40% of total land) by 2040—per the Maryland Department of Agriculture Capital Budget Analysis FY 2026.

For buyers, these numbers translate into a more competitive hunt for parcels with clear development pathways. For landowners, preservation status can narrow buyer pools—but it can also protect long-term value by restricting competing supply and supporting ag- and recreation-based demand.

Evaluating Different Maryland Land Types

When assessing land parcels in Maryland, match the property type to the most likely buyer and the most realistic highest-and-best use.

Residential Land

• Demand concentrates around commuter-friendly suburbs with access to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and major employment corridors.
• Smaller infill lots and redevelopment parcels often outperform on a per-acre basis, especially where utilities already exist.
• School quality, traffic patterns, and permitting timelines can shift valuations dramatically between neighboring communities.

Commercial Land

• Retail-oriented parcels remain highly location-dependent, with best performance in proven corridors and walkable nodes.
• Mixed-use sites in revitalization zones can attract strong interest when a jurisdiction supports density, parking solutions, and streamlined approvals.
• Industrial and flex properties often compete for parcels with interstate access and truck-friendly geometry.

Agricultural Land

• Central Maryland ag parcels can carry development-adjacent premiums, while more rural counties may price closer to production value.
• Conservation easements can limit subdivision potential, but they can also support stable operations and preserve long-term land character.
• Agritourism has become a measurable income driver: in 2022, 354 Maryland farms offered agritourism and recreational services (up from 295 in 2017), generating $14,529,000 in income with an average of $41,043 per farm, according to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Agritourism Factsheet (citing 2022 Census of Agriculture).

Undeveloped / Forest and Recreation Land

• Western mountain regions and coastal marsh areas hold much of the state’s recreation-oriented acreage.
• Buyers often prioritize access, timber value, hunting/fishing quality, and low long-term holding costs.
• Land trust activity and permanent preservation continue to influence what comes to market and how it can be used.

Current Maryland Land Market Conditions (What’s Different Now)

Maryland’s land market remains competitive in many submarkets, but today’s decision-making is more analytical than it was during the ultra-low-rate era. Buyers are underwriting permitting risk, utility costs, and carrying time more carefully—while sellers benefit most when they can document feasibility (surveys, perc/soil information, access, and clean title).

Suburban Land Market

Suburban counties within commuting distance of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. continue to draw the strongest demand for buildable lots and redevelopment sites. Constrained supply—amplified by conservation and preservation—keeps well-positioned parcels liquid, especially those that are “shovel-ready” or close to it.

• Builders typically pursue parcels that can support small subdivisions or townhome clusters, subject to zoning and infrastructure capacity.
• Walkability to schools, retail, parks, and trails can separate “good” sites from “great” ones in pricing and absorption.
• Under-utilized retail centers with clear repositioning potential can see heightened interest when local plans support mixed use.

Rural Land Market

Rural counties often show steadier activity with longer marketing timelines, particularly for large acreage. Buyers focus on production capability, privacy, recreation, and regulatory simplicity. Out-of-state recreational demand can spike seasonally, especially for hunting properties.

Commercial and Industrial Land Market

Commercial land performance continues to split by use type. Retail recovery tends to be node-specific, while logistics, flex, and industrial uses compete aggressively for parcels with interstate access and predictable entitlement paths. In many cases, the best “commercial” opportunities are adaptive: sites that can pivot toward mixed use, medical, storage, or last-mile distribution depending on local demand.

Maryland Land Values in a National (2025) Context

Even though Maryland pricing is highly local, national USDA benchmarks help buyers and sellers calibrate expectations—especially for agricultural and rural holdings.

• U.S. farm real estate value averaged $4,350 per acre in 2025, up $180 per acre (+4.3%) from 2024, according to USDA NASS Land Values 2025 Summary.
• U.S. cropland value averaged $5,830 per acre in 2025, up $260 per acre from 2024, per USDA NASS Land Values 2025 Summary.
• U.S. pasture value averaged $1,920 per acre in 2025, up $90 per acre (+4.9%) from 2024, according to USDA NASS Land Values 2025 Summary.
• Northeast region farm real estate values (including Maryland) increased +20.8% in 2025, reported by the Van Trump Report on USDA Land Values 2025.

For Maryland, the takeaway is straightforward: strong regional appreciation and constrained developable supply can support pricing, but parcel-by-parcel feasibility still determines what a buyer will pay.

Best Practices for Buying and Selling Land in Maryland

If You’re Buying Land

• Define your use case and budget early: Specify your intended use (build, hold, farm, recreation, commercial) and include entitlement, engineering, and carrying costs.
• Confirm zoning and constraints: Verify zoning, overlays, critical area rules (where applicable), and minimum lot size requirements before you negotiate.
• Validate access and utilities: Confirm legal access, road frontage, and realistic utility options (public water/sewer vs. well/septic).
• Order smart due diligence: Use surveys, title review, environmental screening, and soil testing to reduce surprises.
• Move with readiness: In competitive areas, pre-approval (or proof of funds) and a clear closing plan can win deals.

If You’re Selling Land

• Clear decision authority: Confirm ownership, liens, heirs, and partner approvals before listing.
• Make the property easy to evaluate: Provide surveys, title documents, and known feasibility items (perc results, utility letters, easements).
• Improve first impressions: Basic cleanup, mowing, boundary marking, and signage help buyers picture outcomes.
• Market to the right buyer type: Residential builders, farmers, recreational buyers, and commercial developers respond to different channels and messaging.

If you’re dealing with a complicated situation (estate ownership, multiple heirs, or a property that needs extensive cleanup), guidance can matter as much as pricing. For owners struggling to sell land independently, selling to a trusted land acquisition company can simplify the process through “as-is” purchases and flexible timelines.

Outlook for Maryland’s Land Market

Maryland’s long-term land outlook remains supported by regional employment anchors, lifestyle demand, and limited developable supply. Preservation and conservation trends add a structural constraint that can elevate competition for buildable parcels, while agritourism and recreation demand continue to expand the buyer base for working and rural lands.

Expect market outcomes to stay highly localized. Interest rates, construction costs, and permitting timelines will continue to influence near-term pricing—yet the state’s preservation progress and regional land value momentum suggest that well-located, clearly feasible parcels should remain resilient.

Final Thoughts

The Maryland land market is not a single market—it’s a mosaic of suburban infill opportunities, development-edge transitions, protected agricultural regions, and recreation-first landscapes. Buyers who underwrite feasibility and constraints with discipline can still find strong opportunities. Sellers who document access, utilities, and entitlement realities can reduce friction, widen buyer interest, and close faster. With conservation expanding and development conversion slowing, Maryland’s land story in 2026 is increasingly about scarcity, strategy, and selecting the right parcel for the right use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What counties in Maryland tend to have the highest land prices?

High land prices often cluster in suburban counties with strong employment access and limited supply. Markets frequently cited for strong demand include Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s, though pricing still depends on zoning, utilities, and entitlement feasibility.

How much does undeveloped rural land sell for in Maryland?

Pricing varies widely by county, access, topography, and amenities. Many rural parcels can range broadly (often several thousand dollars per acre to well above that), with premiums for waterfront, road frontage, timber value, and proximity to growth corridors.

How long does it take to sell land in Maryland?

Timeline depends on location and readiness. Buildable suburban lots can move quickly when priced correctly, while rural acreage and parcels requiring rezoning, subdivision, or utility extensions often take longer due to due diligence and permitting risk.

What types of land tend to sell fastest?

Parcels with clear, documented feasibility tend to sell fastest—such as lots with verified access, known utility pathways, and minimal environmental constraints. In many counties, “shovel-ready” residential and mixed-use sites attract the most consistent competition.

Why sell land to a dedicated land-buying company?

For owners facing time constraints or complex property issues, land-buying companies can streamline the transaction with “as-is” purchases, simplified paperwork, and flexible closings—especially for inherited land, remote ownership, or properties needing cleanup.