Schedule 1: Interests in Real Property

← Return to full instructions / Go to Schedule 2A ⟶ 
Click italicized terms to review their definition.

Under § 7-21 of the Ethics Law, filers are required to disclose interests in real property. For most filers, this means they will at least need to disclose their principal address.

NOTE:  Even if you rent but do not own a property, you still need to disclose that rental interest on your statement. 

Answer the question below to determine if Schedule 1 applies to you:

During the reporting period covered by this statement, did any of the following own, rent, or have any other interest in any real property (including property owned or leased as a personal residence or business), whether located inside or outside of Baltimore City?

If you answered "yes" to the question above, disclose each qualifying interest in Schedule 1. You will need to submit a separate "Add Real Property" entry for each interest. Watch the tutorial video below to guide you through the schedule:

Instructions

In each "Add Real Property" entry, you will disclose the following information:

1. Real Property Type:  Your first entry will be your "Principal Residence".  Additional properties will count as "Other Real Property".  (Note: the address of your principal address  will remain hidden from any members of the public who view your statement.)   

2. Identity of Person who Holds an Interest in This Property.  State the name of the person with an interest in the property, and their relationship to you.  Submit a separate "Add" entry for each person, including yourself, with an interest in the property. 

3.  Nature of the Interest in This Property.  Indicate whether the property is owned or rented and whether it is solely or jointly held (i.e., held by one person or with someone else who also has an interest in the property). If the property is jointly held, you should "Add" the identity of each person who holds an interest in the property (see No. 2, above).  

Filers are required to disclose their interests in real property, which includes property that individuals rent (as renters). Follow the instructions below to disclose a property that you rent in Schedule 1:

1. Press “Add Real Property Interest,” which will open the Real Property Interest box.
2. Write your principal address  in Part 1 and will choose “residential” for the type of residence.
3. In Part 2, press “Add” and disclose your own information; write your first and last name and choose “self” where it asks for “relationship.”
• Press the check mark or “insert” to save your entry.
• You do not need to disclose the owner’s interest; rather, as a “renter,” you are the only holder of the “rental” interest.
4. In Part 3, you will indicate that you rent (no ownership) the property and will choose “solely held," even if you rent the property with another individual.
5. Skip parts 4-6 since they only apply to ownership interests.<
6. Press “save” to save your interest.

4.  Mortgage. If your property is mortgaged--or has any other encumbrance--state the name of the company that holds the mortgage/encumbrance and the date of the mortgage/encumbrance. 

5. How the Interest in This Property was Acquired. Only if the property was acquired less than 10 years ago, state the name of the person or entity from whom the interest was acquired, the date it was acquired, whether it was acquired by purchase or some other means (e.g., gift or inheritance), and the amount paid or fair market value at the time of acquisition. 

6. Sale or other Transfer of This Property Only if all or any part of the property was sold or otherwise transferred during the reporting period , state the name of the person or entity to whom the property was sold/transferred, the nature of the interest sold/transferred (e.g., ownership interest), the amount of the interest that was sold/transferred (e.g., 100%), the nature of the consideration received for the sale/transfer (e.g., money), and the value/amount of the consideration received for the sale/transfer (e.g., $150,000).  

Key Terms

  • An interest held by your spouse, parent, child, or sibling, if you directly or indirectly controlled that interest;
  • An interest held by any business entity in which, at any time during the reporting period: 
    • you held an equity interest of 30% or more; or
    • a family member held an equity interest of 30% or more, if you directly or indirectly controlled that family member’s interest; and
  • An interest held by any trust or estate in which, at any time during the reporting period, you: 
    • held a reversionary interest; 
    • were a beneficiary; or  
    • if a revocable trust, were a settlor.

Any person or entity engaged in business or other organized activity, whether for-profit or not-for-profit and regardless of form

  • “Business entity” includes, for example, any: 
    • corporation 
    • general or limited partnership
    • limited liability company
    • sole proprietorship. 
    • joint venture
    • unincorporated association or firm
    • real estate investment trust
    • institution, trust, foundation, or other organization

  • having or seeking one or a combination of contracts or other transactions with the City or with another person in connection with a contract between that other person and the City, that involves the commitment of $5,000 or more; 
  • being regulated by or subject to the authority of the City, any City agency, or any City official; or 
  • undertaking activities that require registration as a lobbyist. 

Any department, board, commission, council, authority, committee, office, or other unit of City government. 

Any:

  • spouse;
  • parent;
  • sibling; or
  • child, including an adopted child, stepchild, ward, or foster child, regardless of age. 

Ownership of:

  • more that 3% of a business entity; or
  • securities of any kind that represent or are convertible into ownership of more than 3% of a business entity; or
  • an interest as a result of which the owner:
    • received more than $1,000 in any of the preceding 3 calendar years; or
    • is entitled to receive more than $1,000 in the current or any later calendar year. 

The transfer of any thing or any service of economic value, regardless of the form, without adequate, identifiable, and lawful consideration.

  • “Gift” does not include political contributions that are regulated under state law. 

Any legal or equitable economic interest, whether or not subject to an encumbrance or a condition, that was owned or held, in whole or in part, jointly or severally, directly or indirectly, at any time during the reporting period.

  • “Interest” does not include:
    • an interest held in the capacity of a personal representative, agent, custodian, fiduciary, or trustee, unless the holder has an equitable interest in the subject matter;
    • an interest in a time or demand deposit in a financial institution (e.g., checking account, savings account, or certificate of deposit);
    • an interest in an insurance policy, endowment policy, or annuity contract under which an insurer promises to pay a fixed amount of money, either in a lump sum or periodically for life or some other specified period;
    • an interest in a common trust fund or a trust that forms part of a pension or profit-sharing plan that:
      • has more than 25 participants; and
      • has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be a qualified trust under § 401 or § 501 of the Internal Revenue Code; or
    • a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund that is publicly traded on a national scale, unless the mutual fund or exchange-traded fund is composed primarily of holdings of stocks and interests in a specific sector or area that is regulated by the public servant's agency.  

Any individual or business entity

A dwelling that:

  • is used as a person’s principal or primary home; and 
  • is actually occupied by that person for more than 6 months of a 12-month period. 

  •  January 1 through December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year; or 
  • any additional period for which a disclosure statement is required. 

  • any gift with a value of more than $20; and
  • any gift in a series of gifts with a cumulative value of $100 or more given by or on behalf of the same person during the reporting period.
  • “Significant gift” does not include any of the following, regardless of value:
    • a gift from a family member;
    • a campaign contribution that is otherwise reported as required by law; or
    • tickets or free admission given to an elected official to attend a specific charitable, cultural, or political event, if given by the person sponsoring or conducting the event as a courtesy or ceremony to the office.

Holding an equity interest of 30% or more in a business entity.