The Ultimate Guide for Annapolis, MD: What Homebuyers Should Know in 2026

Updated on: October 27, 2026

Annapolis, MD homes for sale are spread across three main residential zip codes, 21401, 21403 and 21409, and range from historic downtown rowhouses to single-family homes with private docks. Annapolis is a city in Anne Arundel County and home to the U.S. Naval Academy. The listings below show what is on the market now.

Use the listing filters to narrow results by zip code, number of beds and baths, price range and waterfront features. Save a search to get alerts when a new home matches. When a home looks right, use the agent contact block on this page to ask questions or book a tour. Buyers researching the area should also compare agents on local knowledge and how quickly they respond to new listings.

Key Takeaway

Most Annapolis homes for sale sit in 21401, 21403 or 21409, and prices shift with zip code, home type and water access. An Annapolis mailing address does not always mean the home is inside city limits, and that changes the property tax bill. Waterfront buyers should check Critical Area limits and the flood zone before making an offer.

Who This Guide Is For

Buyers searching for a house in Annapolis, MD who are comparing zip codes, home sizes and waterfront options.

Related guides: Living in Annapolis, Annapolis, MD housing market, Best real estate agent in Annapolis, Sell my home in Annapolis.

Annapolis Homes for Sale at a Glance

• Main residential zip codes: 21401, 21403 and 21409.
• 21402 and 21404 have no homes for sale; 21405 does.
• 21409 is outside city limits; city homes pay city tax too.
• Drives: D.C. about 40 to 45 minutes, Baltimore 30 to 40.
• Waterfront lots: 100-foot shoreline buffer and a FEMA flood-zone check.

What Homes Cost in Annapolis

The median home price in Annapolis, MD moves with inventory, which has stayed low, so buyers should set a clear budget before touring. Average costs also differ sharply by home type: a downtown condo and a single-family home with a private dock rarely compete on price. Prices run highest for homes with water access and in zips such as 21405.

The housing stock varies depending on the neighborhood, and rowhouses in the historic downtown area date back to the 1760s.

Homeowner association (HOA) dues for condos and planned communities add to your monthly carrying cost. Lenders count those dues in the debt-to-income check during mortgage underwriting.

Annapolis Homes for Sale by Zip Code

Zip codes 21401 and 21403 each include City of Annapolis neighborhoods and unincorporated Anne Arundel County communities, while 21409 sits entirely outside the city. That line decides whether you pay city property tax and which local government handles your permits, so confirm a specific address with City of Annapolis records. Of the other Annapolis zips, 21402 is the U.S. Naval Academy and 21404 is PO boxes only, so neither has homes for sale. 21405, also called Sherwood Forest, is residential, with single-family homes and a recent median home value of $986,100.

Homes for Sale in 21401

Zip 21401 takes in city neighborhoods such as West Annapolis, where Mariners Cove is a condo and townhome community. It also covers county areas, including a portion of the Cape St. Claire area. Housing runs from historic rowhouses downtown to condos, townhomes and detached homes farther out. The downtown street grid predates cars, so Main Street and West Street are walkable, but street parking is tight. In-town buyers should check whether a home comes with off-street parking.

Homes for Sale in 21403

Zip 21403 also straddles the line: part of it lies inside city limits, and part is unincorporated county land, including Hillsmere, Bay Ridge and Arundel on the Bay. Annapolis Overlook is another community listed in this zip.

Homes for Sale in 21409

Zip 21409 covers the Broadneck Peninsula, across the Severn River from downtown, with the Magothy River on its northern side. Communities include Arnold, Cape St. Claire, Winchester on the Severn, Atlantis, Walnut Ridge, Green Holly, Whitehall Manor and Yorktown. The peninsula also has waterfront subdivisions such as Bayberry, Glen Oban, Magothy Estates, Pines on the Severn, Shore Acres, Twin Harbors and Ulmstead Estates. Housing is mostly detached single-family homes on larger suburban and waterfront lots, with some townhouses and a few condos.

3 Bed, 2 Bath Homes in Annapolis

A three-bedroom, two-bath home can look very different depending on where it sits:

• Older in-town homes: rooms may be smaller and parking limited.
• Townhomes: these usually carry HOA dues.
• Suburban subdivision homes: these often come with a larger lot and more storage, at the cost of a longer drive downtown.

Set the beds and baths filters to 3 and 2 and add your zip codes.

Commute Times From Annapolis to D.C., Baltimore and Fort Meade

• Washington, D.C.: about 35 miles via US-50, 40 to 45 minutes in typical morning traffic.
• Baltimore: about 30 miles via I-97, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Fort Meade: about 20 miles via MD-32, 20 to 35 minutes.

Commuter bus lines also run from the Annapolis area into D.C. Before making an offer, test the drive from the specific listing at your real commute hour.

Schools, Hospital and Airport Access

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) runs the public schools. School assignment follows attendance boundaries, so a zip code or neighborhood name is not enough to confirm it. Enter each address in the AACPS Locate Your School tool before you make an offer.

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center is on Medical Parkway. Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) is roughly 30 minutes from downtown, depending on traffic.

Waterfront and Water-Access Homes in Annapolis

Listings use three terms:

• Waterfront: direct frontage, sometimes with a private pier.
• Water-privileged: access through community slips, marinas or kayak launches.
• Water view: a view only.

Ask the HOA or community association whether slips are deeded, assigned or waitlisted. Water access affects property values as well as daily use.

Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Critical Area covers all land and water within 1,000 feet of the Bay, its tidal tributaries and tidal wetlands. Within it, a 100-foot vegetated buffer from the shoreline, wider in sensitive areas, generally must stay undisturbed, which limits clearing and new building. New development must also cut phosphorus runoff at least 10% below pre-development levels. In practice, that limits added roofs, driveways, patios and pools unless you add stormwater mitigation. Confirm a property's status and limits with Anne Arundel County Planning and Zoning or the Maryland DNR Critical Area program.

Look up the flood zone by address at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov). If the home is in a zone starting with A or V and your loan is federally backed or regulated, the lender will require flood insurance.

Quiet Waters Park, Truxtun Park, which has a public boat launch, and Sandy Point State Park give water access to buyers without private frontage. Things to do in Annapolis, from City Dock to the annual boat shows, bring summer crowds that fill downtown streets and parking.

Buy Your Annapolis Home With The Jen Holden Group

The Jen Holden Group helps buyers move from browsing these listings to closing. The team handles each step:

• Sets up saved searches and alerts by zip code, price, beds and baths, and waterfront features.
• Schedules tours.
• Writes and negotiates offers.
• Coordinates the inspection, appraisal and closing steps.

Use the agent contact block on this page to start a search or ask about a specific home.

First-time buyers should get a lender pre-approval early, since it sets a realistic price range and strengthens an offer. Working out how much house you can afford means counting the mortgage payment plus property tax, insurance and any HOA dues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the property taxes like in Annapolis?

The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) assesses all property. It revalues one-third of homes each year and phases increases in over three years. Rates per $100 of assessment depend on whether the home is inside city limits:

• Inside City of Annapolis limits: $0.112 state, $0.577 county and $0.738 city.
• Outside city limits: $0.968 county plus $0.112 state, with no city tax.

State and county transfer taxes also add to closing costs, and the amounts vary for first-time Maryland homeowners.

Where can I find crime data for Annapolis?

Inside city limits, the Annapolis Police Department publishes annual citywide crime statistics and a crime incident map on annapolis.gov, which you can filter by date, crime type and city ward. Outside city limits, the Anne Arundel County Police Department publishes a daily crime report by its five patrol districts and an annual end-of-year report.

How current are the Annapolis listings on this page?

Listings come from Bright MLS and refresh at least every 12 hours. A home's active, pending or sold status can change between refreshes. Confirm a home's status with the team before planning a tour.

Do I need to sign an agreement with an agent before touring Annapolis homes?

Under Maryland law, an agent can represent you as a buyer's agent only under a written brokerage agreement that sets out that relationship. Without one, an agent who shows you a home represents the seller, and must give you the "Understanding Whom Real Estate Agents Represent" disclosure. The agreement's terms, including compensation, are negotiable.

How fast do homes in Annapolis go under contract?

Days on market vary by zip code, price and season, and each listing shows how long it has been active. Well-priced homes can move quickly, so have that pre-approval in hand before you start touring.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Broadneck Peninsula
• Wikipedia: Broadneck High School
• Zip-Codes.com: ZIP Code 21404
• Anne Arundel County: FY26 Tax Information, City of Annapolis
• Anne Arundel County Public Schools: Boundary/Feeder
• Maryland DNR: Critical Area Compliance
• FEMA: Flood Maps for Realtors, Lenders and Insurers
• City of Annapolis: Crime Statistics Annual Reports
• Anne Arundel County Police Department: Daily Crime Report
• Maryland REALTORS: The Best Buyers' Agents Follow Maryland Law