baltimore ground rent

[Bonnie Y.]

Does anyone know what percentage of properties in Baltimore is on rent ground? I understand it's "common"--does it mean we can expect over half are on rent ground? Is it vast majority or about even split? Another question is--how does it affect the property price in the long run? Properties on rent ground tend to be cheaper, and tend not to appreciate as much?

Thank you for your input.

[Matt Schelberg]

@Nicole B. I think @Ned Carey is right about the absence of a requirement to redeem the ground rent.  I bought a property in Baltimore County earlier this month and was not required to redeem. 

I think of ground rent as a loan.  If a $90 annual ground rent has a redemption cost of $1,500 that's equivalent to a loan at 6% interest.  I can achieve a higher rate of return by reinvesting that $1,500 in another rental property, so it does not make sense for me to redeem the ground rent on most of my properties.