Need to find holder of ground ren in Baltimore, MD

[Lamont B.]

Afternoon BP,

I finally landed a contract, but the deal may not go through due to the property having ground rent on the title - my HML will only finance the loan if we can purchase the property; in addition to the land. I assumed finding this individual should be relatively easy, but my realtor said the seller's title company isn't going assist. I personally went on MD's Assessment and Taxation and found that no one has redeemed ground rent through their department. My question is: How would you find the owner/holder of the ground rent? If he/she has been collecting money, there has to be a papertrail somewhere. Any assistance will be appreciated. Thanks

[Ned Carey]

Who in the hell are you using for a HML if they give a damn about a ground rent? It is either an ignorant lender of an ignorant title company.

• First, is the ground rent registered. If it is not, the ground rent owner cannot collect. You can check on SDAT
• Ground rent owners can only collect 3 years back ground rent. 
• Any title company that has a clue can escrow three years back ground rent and $500 for legal fees.  Issue taken care of. If the ground rent is not already registered that GR holder is not coming back. After three years you get your escrow back.

The title company will have to do a title search just have them give you a copy of the ground rent deed. If a ground rent has not been transferred and recorded in the last 40 years they that is just more evidence that the GR holder will never be heard from again.

Most active ground rent holders own thousands of them and are well known to title companies.