Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland

Re: ground rent

Although your question was quite vague as to the specifics of the problem, presumably when a title search was done in connection with your refinance application, it revealed an old agreement that obligated your grandfather to pay ground rent. I assume you knew nothing about this and it hasn't been paid. The lender is worried about a claim against the property being made due to the failure to pay.

If the landowners stopped collecting this and don't wish to pursue it, perhaps you can contact them and get a release of this obligation that can be recorded in the land records so that this doesn't happen again. On the other hand, if they want to enforce the agreement, you may have to pay at least the last 3 years to satisfy the lender, and pay forward as well.