Aret Koseian at Long & Foster in Baltimore: A Specialist in Historic Home Sales

Aret Koseian is a real estate agent with Long & Foster's Baltimore office who focuses on historic properties, rowhouses, and neighborhood-specific transactions in the city's older residential districts. His practice centers on the mechanics of selling and buying homes built before 1950, a category that makes up much of Baltimore's housing stock but requires knowledge distinct from suburban or new-construction sales.

What Koseian and Long & Foster actually are

Long & Foster is a regional brokerage headquartered in Bethesda with roughly 5,000 agents across the Mid-Atlantic. In Baltimore, the firm operates as a full-service residential shop competing alongside Coldwell Banker, Sotheby's International Realty, and independent boutique agencies. Koseian works within this structure as a listing and buyer's agent, meaning he represents either the seller (on commission) or the buyer (typically without direct cost to the buyer, as the seller's agent splits the commission). His specialty in older Baltimore homes distinguishes him within a market where many agents treat rowhouses and Victorian-era properties as generic inventory.

Services and commission structure

Like all agents at Long & Foster, Koseian operates on a commission basis: typically 5 to 6 percent of the sale price, split between listing and buyer's agent. If you hire him to sell, Long & Foster lists your property on the Baltimore Metropolitan Real Estate Information System (BAREIS), the regional MLS that all agents access. If you buy through him, there is no direct cost; the seller's agent pays his commission from the sale proceeds. Verify the specific percentage with Koseian or his brokerage, as commission rates are negotiable.

His added value sits in the detail work: understanding which Baltimore neighborhoods have appreciating versus flat markets, knowing how renovation scope affects resale value in historic districts, identifying common hidden costs in old-house transactions (lead paint remediation, foundation issues, outdated electrical systems), and navigating the tax credits and grants available for historic home rehabilitation in Baltimore. He can explain the difference between selling a Canton rowhouse and a Fells Point one, markets that operate on distinct buyer profiles and pricing.

How to choose between agents in Baltimore

Koseian's historic-home focus makes most sense if you are buying or selling a pre-1950 rowhouse, a Victorian mansion, or a colonial in Guilford or Roland Park. If your property is a 1990s suburban home in Owings Mills or a new condo downtown, a general-market agent at Long & Foster or another firm may serve you just as well and may have more recent comp sales to reference. Boutique agencies like Redfin-affiliated agents (who offer rebates on buyer's side commissions) work well for cost-conscious buyers; traditional brokerages like Coldwell Banker and Sotheby's tend to emphasize prestige marketing for higher-end sales, which matters more in Roland Park or Canton than in working neighborhoods.

The real difference: Long & Foster's scale means access to more buyer inquiries and broader marketing reach, but it also means less hand-holding at slower agencies in the same firm. If you want hourly consultation on historic preservation options, an independent agent may be a better fit. If you want your property in front of thousands of active buyers quickly, Long & Foster's size matters.

Who this suits and who it does not

Choose Koseian if you own or are buying a historic Baltimore home and want someone who can explain why a 1920s rowhouse with original plaster and joists is not simply "old" but worth preserving, and how that affects pricing and buyer pools. He suits sellers who need a realistic timeline for a 90-year-old property (longer than new construction) and buyers who are committed to neighborhood character over suburban convenience.

Skip him if you are selling a contemporary property where current comps matter more than historical context, or if you need an agent who specializes in new construction or investment multifamily (where Long & Foster has separate divisions).

What the first meeting looks like

Initial contact typically involves a phone or email inquiry followed by a home tour. If you are selling, Koseian will assess condition, comparable sales in the neighborhood, and any title or structural issues. He will discuss staging for historic homes, which often means restraint: buyers of older properties generally want period character visible, not stripped down. If you are buying, he will walk you through neighborhoods, explain market dynamics, help you understand offer strategy, and connect you to inspectors and contractors who specialize in historic properties.

Hours and logistics

Long & Foster's Baltimore office is located downtown; specific address and hours vary by location. Koseian works by appointment and is reachable through the brokerage's main line or directly. Verify his current contact information and availability through Long & Foster's website or a direct phone call, as agent assignments and office operations change.

Koseian's reputation in Baltimore's historic-property market rests on the specific knowledge that transaction volume alone does not provide. That makes him a logical choice for the city's core neighborhoods, where most homes require a seller's agent who speaks the language of original mantels and load-bearing walls.