(a) This section applies to all counties, except Baltimore City.
(b) Except as provided in §§ 12-404, 12-405, 12-406, 12-408, 12-409, 12- 410, and 12-411 of this subtitle, the governing body of a county may:
(1) acquire, by lease, purchase, gift, devise, bequest, condemnation, or any other method, an interest in any property that is needed for a public purpose;
(2) construct buildings on the property for the benefit of the county;
(3) sell surplus property at public sale, after advertising the sale for at least 20 days; or
(4) (i) provide wholly or partly for the financing of housing or a housing project; and
(ii) place a deed of trust, mortgage, or other instrument on the financed property to ensure repayment of money used to purchase, construct, rehabilitate, or develop the housing or housing project.