Maryland REALTORS® releases a State of Housing poll annually that helps to quantify Marylander’s feelings on housing and the real estate market. This past January was the 5th edition of the poll, and was a random sample of 800 respondents statewide.
Slim plurality see state as off on the wrong track; voters have been steadily less positive year after year since 2020; in 2025 Md residents are pretty split on this topic with 46% feeling things are going in the right direction and 48% feel are not on the right track
When asked what they feel is the biggest issue they would like the governor and state legislature to focus on, the top two items were housing affordability and taxes/property taxes at number two on the list.
On the question, is the cost to buy a house in your part of Md too high, about right or too low—only 13% said “about right” and 84% of the respondents said too high.
On the issue of housing affordability and supply, the survey showed that only 18% gave the state government a “good” rating, 40% “just fair” and 36% said “poor”.
Respondents felt that there was “too little” of housing: 75% stated too little for younger people and those just getting started in their careers in their part of Md.; 67% stated too little housing for people with low incomes in their part of Md.
Under the Personal Impact and Housing Cost Strain section of the poll, six in ten feel financially strained by monthly mortgage or rent payment—61% stated under “strain” vs 38% not under “strain”.
Nearly 1/3 have thought about moving out of the state because of high housing costs: 32% considering moving out of the state in 2025 vs the 2024 poll at 23%.
Surrounding obstacles in buying a home, the top listed items were low wages, interest rates, down payment and construction costs.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
