More than 2,300 of the 5,800 homes for sale in Baltimore are in historic districts. Wouldn't you like to know which if you're house-hunting in the city, so you can -- depending on your preference -- focus in on the historic homes or avoid them?

Now you can. Metropolitan Regional Information Systems just added "historic district" to the classifications on the multiple-listing service in Baltimore.

MRIS thinks this will cut down on confusion, headaches and missed opportunities.

"Many homeowners that did not know their homes were classified in a historic district were understandably frustrated when the City of Baltimore told them to undo or redo remodeling projects because they were unaware of historic construction restrictions," the company says on its blog.

It also notes that the MLS designation should help buyers understand when they're eligible for historic tax benefits, so they don't miss out.

The designation isn't self-reported. The city and the Baltimore City Commission on Historic and Architectural Preservation provided data to MRIS about local and federal districts.

I checked out MRIS's HomesDatabase site for consumers last night to see if "historic district" was a search option there, and it looks like it isn't. But anyone with access to the multiple list itself -- real estate agents, for instance -- will be able to use it in searches.

What are your thoughts on homeownership in an historic district? Love the idea or hate it?