So, you’re thinking of buying an investment property near Fort Meade NSA, Maryland? Your instincts are strong, because there’s plenty of opportunity in the surrounding cities, whether you’d like to buy a house to rent immediately or hope to convert your home into a rental later.
Overall, Fort Meade’s location lends itself to rental income potential, but take note that your perfect house search could take a while in today’s highly competitive sellers' market.
Before You Buy a Rental Property near Fort Meade, Maryland
Let’s say your finances are impeccable, your savings are flush, and you’ve crafted a solid operating and exit plan for your Fort Meade rental home. Have you assembled your rental property investment team?
This group of professionals is important in normal circumstances, but if you’re a long-distance landlord, you’ll rely on them even more.
- Local real estate agent: They should have rental investment experience and can refer you to the other pros you’ll need.
- Property management company: Chances are that you’ll need a property management company to stay sane and profitable.
- Mortgage professional: Find one with experience in rental property financing and VA loans.
- Real estate attorney: You need someone specializing in real estate investor experiences.
- Insurance agent: Your agent should know how to work with investors and their lenders.
- Home inspector: Your real estate agent definitely knows a great home inspector.
- Appraiser: They’ll help you decide which improvements add value.
- Accountant: Numbers are everything in real estate investing. Work with an account well-versed in rental investment strategy.
- Contractor and maintenance help: You’ll need a repair hero during crunch times.
Popular Locations to Buy a House near Fort Meade
Around Fort Meade, there’s a variety of housing styles, especially townhouses and stand-alone single-family homes. You’ll find recent construction options and older homes dating from the 1960s through the 2010s.
Of course, the most in-demand rentals near Fort Meade have the magic combination of an easy commute to base or other popular employers (it’s a high-traffic region) and access to great public schools.
Maryland constantly ranks high in public education options. These are two reasons home buyers often look to Anne Arundel County and adjacent Howard County. Prince George’s County is also popular because property tends to be less expensive, and its overall growth rate continues.
You should also note that because it’s close to Fort Meade and has the urban feel and walkability young professionals love, some buyers look at the city of Baltimore due to trendy areas like Federal Hill and Fells Point. Each of these counties has pros and cons for investors, including differing property taxes.
Photo by Shutterstock
Anne Arundel County
- Annapolis
- Arnold
- Crofton, Odenton, Hanover, Severn (the four cities closest to Fort Meade)
- Glen Burnie
- Pasadena
- Severna Park
Howard County
- Columbia
- Ellicott City
- Fulton
- Laurel
Prince George’s County
- Bowie
- College Park
- Laurel (shared with Howard County)
Fort Meade’s Proximity to Washington, DC
In reality, the commute to Washington, DC, military bases is about 25 miles, but the actual drive time could take hours depending on the day or hour. But the good news is that this doesn’t deter military home renters looking for Fort Meade housing, especially dual service members who bounce around the National Capital Region for multiple assignments. They take advantage of the MARC train station in Odenton, express buses, and other Metro stop solutions at Greenbelt or New Carrollton.
Desirable Amenities Around Fort Meade
The Fort Meade area has a wide variety of shopping, entertainment, and dining. Between Columbia, Annapolis, and down south in Bowie, you’ll find every national brand and small-town mom-and-pop store you could ever hope for. The trick is narrowing down the choices.
Check out some fun family outings near Fort Meade: Take Me Out to the Ball Game Near Fort Meade, Maryland.
Photo by Shutterstock
Fort Meade Area Income Potential
There’s no doubt the government’s influence is strong around Fort Meade, which means organizations like the National Security Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency, and Fort Meade itself hire a substantial amount of in-demand professionals. Don’t forget that vital government agencies need big-name companies and schools like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, and many, many more to support their activities.
After talking with your team of real estate professionals and researching the Fort Meade area, you should have a pretty good feeling about whether your budget and finances fit the investment property market for the surrounding area.
With a dense military population (and their guaranteed BAH), a solid population of high-income earners, and loads of desirable quality-of-life features, an investment property near Fort Meade could be an excellent addition to your investment strategy.
Moving to Fort Meade?
Learn more about the greater DC area with our free guide below.
