Maryland vs Ohio
Same underlying data as the individual state pages, side by side. Statutory rates and redemption windows only — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.
| | Maryland | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate | Tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure |
| Rate / penalty | 6% default, set by each county (20% in Montgomery and Prince George's); price bidding, not rate | Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated |
| Redemption | Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied) | 1+ year |
These aren't the same kind of sale: Maryland runs a tax lien certificate, while Ohio runs a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure. That changes what you actually hold after the sale — a claim against the debt in one case, the property itself (or a right to it) in the other.
Redemption windows differ: Maryland gives owners Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied), Ohio gives 1+ year — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Maryland bidders compete on price, not rate: each county fixes the redemption rate before the sale (6% by default under § 14-820, 20% in Montgomery and Prince George's) and owner-occupied homes are capped at 10%. The owner can redeem until a court forecloses, and you can't sue until 6 months after the sale (9 for owner-occupied).
Full Maryland page →Ohio county treasurers may sell tax certificates (R.C. 5721.31): at auction the rate is bid down from 18% in quarter-point steps and the owner pays at least 6% of the price on redemption (R.C. 5721.32, 5721.30(E)), or the whole list goes to one buyer in a negotiated sale (R.C. 5721.33). The holder can file for foreclosure after one year (R.C. 5721.37) and the owner can redeem until the sale is confirmed. Where no certificate is sold, the county forecloses and the sheriff sells the property (R.C. 5721.18–5721.19).
Full Ohio page →Property & tax market
| | Maryland | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $419,900 | $214,800 |
| Median property tax / year | $4,093 | $2,822 |
| Tax / home value | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Tax / household income | 3.9% | 4.0% |
| Homes owned outright | 29.0% | 39.4% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 3.0% | 4.3% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1970 |
A typical home in Maryland pays 1.5× the property tax of one in Ohio ($4,093 against $2,822 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Maryland lien ties up about 1.5× the money of an Ohio one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.5× the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 29.0% of owner-occupied homes in Maryland and 39.4% in Ohio. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 3.0% against 4.3%: Ohio has more of the empty properties that tend to go unredeemed — and to need work if the deed ends up yours.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25077, B25103, B25081, B25002, B25004, B25035, B19013). Medians of what owners report paying, not statutory rates. County-level figures are on each state page.
Quick answers
Is Maryland or Ohio a tax lien state?+
Maryland is a tax lien certificate state. Ohio is a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure state.
Which has the higher rate, Maryland or Ohio?+
Maryland: 6% default, set by each county (20% in Montgomery and Prince George's); price bidding, not rate. Ohio: Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, Maryland or Ohio?+
Redemption windows differ: Maryland gives owners Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied), Ohio gives 1+ year — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in Maryland or Ohio?+
The median homeowner pays $4,093 a year in Maryland and $2,822 in Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). A typical home in Maryland pays 1.5× the property tax of one in Ohio ($4,093 against $2,822 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Maryland lien ties up about 1.5× the money of an Ohio one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.5× the dollars.
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This page is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates and redemption periods are set by state statute and can change by county or legislative session — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.