Why I'm featuring this home

A lot of people tell me they want to homestead but can't leave the city yet. The job is here, and so is the family. This house is a good answer to that.

The backyard is already set up to grow food. The raised beds are built, and the fruit trees are mature, so you are not waiting years for a first harvest. Rain catch basins collect water for the garden, and a picket fence closes it all in.

Homestead does not have to mean 100 acres. On 0.17 acres you can grow a real share of what your family eats and learn the skills before you ever buy land. If chickens are part of the plan, check Baltimore County's rules first.

The house is a 1928 Craftsman rancher, updated inside with an open layout. The kitchen has granite counters, subway tile and stainless appliances, and the primary suite has a walk-in closet.

Older homes make people nervous about basements, and that's fair. This one has a waterproofing system with a lifetime warranty and its own outside entrance. That makes it a good spot for a canning pantry or seed starting.

At $299,900 with 20% down, principal and interest comes to about $1,556 a month. If 20% feels out of reach, there are loans that take far less down. I can walk you through them on one call.