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Polaris Home Inspections
Polaris Home Inspections
DC · Maryland · Virginia
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Baltimore City & Baltimore County

Home Inspections in
Baltimore City & County

Formstone rowhouses in Canton and Hampden, Roland Park colonials, Dundalk and Catonsville post-war homes and newer builds in Owings Mills and White Marsh.

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Baltimore’s housing is some of the oldest in the region. In the city, block after block of 19th- and early-20th-century rowhouses have been rehabbed, flipped, converted and covered in formstone along the way. Baltimore County wraps around the city with streetcar suburbs, steel-town neighborhoods, post-war subdivisions and, farther out, newer communities and rural land. We inspect each with the right expectations — and look past fresh rehab work to what’s underneath. Nearly half of the Baltimore-area homes we’ve inspected were built before 1950.

Homes in Baltimore: what we inspect

Housing eras & styles

Fells Point, Federal Hill, Canton, Patterson Park and Hampden are dense with 19th- and early-20th-century brick rowhouses, many faced with formstone in the mid-1900s. Roland Park and Guilford are early planned suburbs with large early-1900s homes. Dundalk began as a planned community for steelworkers, while Towson, Catonsville, Parkville and Pikesville grew with 1920s–1960s colonials, Cape Cods and ramblers. Perry Hall, White Marsh and Owings Mills are largely 1980s and newer.

Water & sewer

Baltimore City’s water system serves the city and most of the developed county. Baltimore County has drawn an Urban-Rural Demarcation Line since the 1960s to keep public water and sewer inside it; north of that line, in the horse country around Hereford, Sparks and Monkton, homes rely on private wells and septic systems.

Radon

  • EPA Zone 1 Baltimore County
  • EPA Zone 2 Baltimore City

EPA rates Baltimore County Zone 1, its highest-potential category, and Baltimore City Zone 2. County homes with basements should be tested as a matter of course, and city rowhouses with basement apartments or finished lower levels are worth testing too.

Zone 1 = highest potential (predicted average indoor level above 4 pCi/L) · Zone 2 = moderate potential (predicted average 2–4 pCi/L). Source: EPA Map of Radon Zones

New construction

Owings Mills, White Marsh and Middle River have added newer subdivisions and townhouses, and the city keeps adding condos and full rowhouse rehabs in neighborhoods like Canton, Locust Point and Port Covington. Rehabs deserve the same scrutiny as new builds.

What's different about inspecting in Baltimore

Formstone, party walls and flat roofs

Formstone can hide cracked or deteriorated brick and let water in where it separates, and city rowhouses usually have low-slope roofs with shared parapets. We check the façade, the roof where it can be reached safely, and the party walls inside for water stains.

Rehabs and flips

Full rowhouse rehabs are everywhere in Baltimore. New finishes can sit on old joists, undersized beams and repurposed plumbing. We look at framing where it is visible, venting, electrical work and signs of work done without permits.

Common findings in this housing stock

We’ve inspected 36 homes in Baltimore since March 2026

45% of the homes we’ve inspected here were built before 1950, so we look hard at original wiring, plumbing and sewer lines.

Towns we’ve worked in

  • Baltimore23
  • Catonsville2
  • Parkville2
  • Owings Mills2
  • Middle River2
  • Milford Mill2
  • Dundalk1
  • Rosedale1
  • Overlea1

Year built

Median year built: 1950

  • Before 195045%
  • 1950–197927%
  • 1980–199921%
  • 2000 or later6%

Based on 33 homes with a year built on record.

Completed inspections from our records, through October 2026. We never publish addresses.

Reviews from Baltimore

“I recently had the pleasure of working with Polaris Home Inspections, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the level of service provided. From start to finish, the process was smooth, professional, and thorough. The inspection was incredibly detailed, and everything was explained in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. What really stood out was the attention to detail and the willingness to take the time to answer all of my questions without rushing.”
Clonel N. – Baltimore, MD
Homebuyer · Home inspection + mold + termite · March 2026 · on Google

Towns & neighborhoods we serve

Town guides:Baltimore

Canton, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Patterson Park, Hampden, Mount Vernon, Roland Park, Locust Point, Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk, Parkville, Pikesville, Owings Mills, Perry Hall, White Marsh, Lutherville-Timonium, Essex, and the rest of Baltimore.

Inspections Baltimore buyers add most

Full Home InspectionMulti-Unit & Investor Property InspectionPre-Listing (Seller) InspectionRental InspectionSewer / Septic ScopeRadon TestingRoof InspectionTermite / WDI Inspection

Baltimore Inspection Pricing

Property SizePolaris Price
Condos & homes up to 1,500 sq ft$395
1,500–3,000 sq ft$459
3,000–5,000 sq ft$579
5,000–7,500 sq ft$699
7,500–10,000 sq ft$849
Use the cost calculator for your exact quote →

Baltimore home inspection FAQ

Is formstone a problem?

Not by itself, but it can hide what is behind it. Where formstone has cracked or pulled away, water gets into the brick and framing. We check the façade closely and recommend a masonry contractor when we see separation or bulging.

Do you do Baltimore City rental inspections?

Yes — we are licensed Maryland home inspectors and perform rental license inspections for Baltimore City and Baltimore County. See our rental inspection page for details.

Is a sewer scope worth it on a Baltimore rowhouse?

Usually. Many rowhouses still have original clay or cast iron laterals, and roots and cracks are common. The camera shows the whole run before you take on the repair.

Are homes in northern Baltimore County on wells and septic?

Many are. Outside the county’s planned water and sewer areas, rural northern Baltimore County relies on private wells and septic systems — add a water test and a septic evaluation there.

Should I test for radon in Baltimore County?

Yes, especially with a basement. Radon varies from house to house, and a 48-hour test during your inspection period gives you a result in time to negotiate.

Other areas we cover

Montgomery County, MDFairfax County, VAWashington DCPrince George's County, MDPrince William County, VAAnne Arundel County, MDHoward County, MDLoudoun County, VAArlington & Alexandria, VACharles County, MDStafford County, VAEastern Shore, MDAll service areas

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