What Are Virginia Real Estate Transfer Taxes? Complete Guide
Quick Answer: Virginia real estate transfer taxes start with the state grantor's tax of $0.25 per $100 of the sale price, which is $1,500 on a $600,000 home. In Northern Virginia jurisdictions inside the NVTA transportation district, an additional $0.15 per $100 applies, bringing the total to $0.40 per $100, or $2,400 on that same home. Transfer taxes are one piece of the seller's closing cost picture, and your listing commission is typically the largest single line item.
Key Takeaways
- Virginia's state grantor's tax is $0.25 per $100 of the sale price and is paid by the seller at settlement.
- Northern Virginia sellers pay an additional $0.15 per $100 regional transportation fee, for $0.40 per $100 total.
- Transfer taxes are separate from recordation taxes (generally a buyer cost), HOA transfer fees, and agent commissions.
- On a $700,000 Northern Virginia home, grantor's taxes alone run $2,800, while your listing commission remains the biggest variable.
- Virginia law calculates grantor's tax on the greater of sale price or assessed value, so knowing both matters when you price.
- Certain transfers, including many between spouses or into a trust, may be exempt. Your settlement attorney confirms this before closing.
On This Page
- What Is Virginia's Grantor's Tax?
- Northern Virginia's Extra Transfer Fee
- Virginia Transfer Tax Rates by Jurisdiction
- Who Pays Transfer Taxes in Virginia, Buyer or Seller?
- Virginia Transfer Tax Exemptions and Special Transfers
- Full Virginia Seller Closing Cost Breakdown
- Seller Savings Calculator: Where Commission Beats Taxes
- HOA Transfer and Disclosure Fees in Virginia
- What Changed for Virginia Sellers After the NAR Settlement
- How to Minimize What You Pay at Closing
- Pre-Close Seller Checklist
- Virginia Seller Timeline: Listing to Settlement
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Glossary
- Conclusion and Next Steps
- Related Guides
- Northern Virginia Communities and Nearby Areas
Virginia real estate transfer taxes are the state and local charges a seller pays to legally transfer property ownership at closing, anchored by the state grantor's tax of $0.25 per $100 of the sale price. Every Virginia seller gets a settlement statement on closing day, and for many, the line items are a surprise.
Transfer taxes, grantor's fees, HOA disclosure charges and deed preparation costs add up quickly, and they vary depending on where in Virginia you are selling. Sellers across the DMV region pay different totals on the same sale price, which is why our DMV real estate specialists built this guide.
This guide breaks down every transfer-related cost Virginia sellers face, what each fee is, who it goes to, how it is calculated, and what has changed since the NAR commission settlement reshaped how agents are compensated. Whether you are selling in Fairfax, Ashburn, Alexandria or anywhere across Northern Virginia real estate, you will leave knowing exactly what you owe.
One reminder before diving in: transfer taxes are fixed by statute and jurisdiction, while your listing commission is negotiable, and it is typically several times larger than everything else on the settlement statement combined. We will show you the math.
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What Is Virginia's Grantor's Tax?
Virginia's grantor's tax is the primary transfer tax sellers pay when conveying real property. Authorized under Virginia Code § 58.1-802, it is levied at settlement and collected when the deed is recorded with the local circuit court. The tax is paid by the grantor, which is you, the seller.
It is calculated on the greater of the sale price or the property's assessed value. That detail matters: if you sell a home for slightly below its assessed value, which happens in a softening market or an estate sale, Virginia taxes the higher assessed figure rather than what you actually received.
How the Rate Is Structured
The base state grantor's tax is $0.25 per $100 of consideration. Think of it as one quarter per $100, or 0.25 percent of the total. On a $500,000 home that is $1,250. On a $750,000 home it is $1,875. In most parts of Virginia outside the Northern Virginia region, that is the full seller transfer tax obligation.
Grantor's Tax by Sale Price (Base Virginia Rate, 0.25 Percent)
Base state grantor's tax only. Northern Virginia sellers add the regional fee shown in the next section.
Assessed value vs. sale price: Virginia law taxes the greater of sale price or assessed value. If your home sells for $580,000 but carries a county assessment of $595,000, your grantor's tax is calculated on $595,000. Verify your current assessment before you list.
Northern Virginia's Extra Transfer Fee
If you are selling inside the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) district, you will see a second line item: an additional $0.15 per $100 regional congestion relief fee, bringing your total to $0.40 per $100. It funds regional transportation infrastructure including Metro expansion, express lanes and road improvements.
The jurisdictions that charge this additional fee are Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, City of Alexandria, Loudoun County, Prince William County, City of Manassas and City of Manassas Park. If your property sits inside any of those boundaries, which covers the large majority of the Northern Virginia market, the combined 0.40 percent rate applies.
Northern Virginia vs. Base Virginia Rate, Side by Side
Base Virginia rate (0.25 percent) in navy. Northern Virginia combined rate (0.40 percent) in gold.
Virginia Transfer Tax Rates by Jurisdiction
The table below covers seller-side transfer taxes across the primary markets we serve, plus several out-of-region comparisons. Recordation taxes on the deed of trust are primarily a buyer cost and are not reflected in the seller column. Your settlement attorney confirms which items apply to your specific transaction.
Seller-side grantor's tax by jurisdiction. Rates set by Virginia Code § 58.1-802 and § 58.1-802.2. Confirm current figures with your settlement attorney before closing.
| Jurisdiction | State grantor's tax | Regional add-on | Total rate | On $600K | On $800K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| Loudoun County | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| Arlington County | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| City of Alexandria | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| Prince William County | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| City of Fairfax | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| City of Falls Church | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| City of Manassas and Manassas Park | $0.25/$100 | $0.15/$100 | $0.40/$100 | $2,400 | $3,200 |
| Stafford and Spotsylvania | $0.25/$100 | None | $0.25/$100 | $1,500 | $2,000 |
| Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield | $0.25/$100 | None | $0.25/$100 | $1,500 | $2,000 |
| Virginia Beach and Norfolk | $0.25/$100 | None | $0.25/$100 | $1,500 | $2,000 |
Always verify at settlement: transfer tax rates are set by state code and local ordinance and can change. Confirm the exact amounts with your settlement attorney or title company before closing.
Who Pays Transfer Taxes in Virginia, Buyer or Seller?
Virginia splits transfer-related taxes between the two sides of the transaction. Here is how the primary charges break down by party.
Seller Pays
- Grantor's tax, $0.25 to $0.40 per $100 (state plus regional)
- Deed preparation fee, typically $150 to $350
- HOA transfer and disclosure fees, $200 to $600 or more
- Outstanding liens or judgments, cleared at settlement
- Listing agent commission, the largest single item
- Prorated property taxes, owed through the settlement date
Buyer Typically Pays
- Deed recordation tax, $0.25 per $100 (state)
- Deed of trust recordation, on the loan amount
- Local recordation tax, varies by locality
- Buyer agent compensation, negotiated in a written agreement
- Owner's title insurance, often negotiated
- Lender fees, appraisal and inspections
The key distinction: the grantor's tax is the seller's transfer tax, while the recordation taxes tied to the deed and deed of trust are predominantly buyer costs. In competitive negotiations sellers sometimes offer concessions that help buyers cover those recordation costs, but the obligation itself does not move.
Before you set a list price, you need accurate comparable sales rather than an automated estimate. Get a home valuation that accounts for your neighborhood, your home's condition and current market conditions, so your transfer tax and net proceeds math starts from a realistic number.
Virginia Transfer Tax Exemptions and Special Transfers
Not every deed triggers a grantor's tax. Virginia Code § 58.1-811 lists categories of transfers that are exempt or partially exempt, and several of them come up regularly in family and estate situations across the DMV.
Common transfer types and how they are generally treated. Exemption eligibility is fact specific and must be confirmed by your settlement attorney or the circuit court clerk.
| Transfer type | General treatment | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Deed between spouses | Commonly exempt when no consideration passes | Exemption citation on the deed cover sheet |
| Transfer incident to divorce | Commonly exempt when made under a court order or property settlement agreement | That the order or agreement is referenced correctly |
| Gift deed to a family member | Grantor's tax generally does not apply where there is no consideration, but recording fees still do | Whether any debt is being assumed, which can create consideration |
| Transfer into a revocable trust | Commonly exempt when the grantor is the beneficiary | Trust language and how the deed is drafted |
| Inherited property conveyed by the estate | Distribution to heirs is typically not a taxable sale | Treatment once heirs sell to a third party, which is taxable |
| Quitclaim deed with an existing mortgage | May be taxable if the outstanding loan balance counts as consideration | How the clerk treats the assumed balance |
| Refinance of an existing loan | No grantor's tax, since no title transfer occurs. Deed of trust recordation tax may apply | Whether a reduced refinance rate applies with the same lender |
One caution: exemption claims are recorded on the deed and reviewed by the circuit court clerk. Claiming one incorrectly can delay recording or trigger a corrected assessment later. Have the attorney who prepares the deed cite the exemption, rather than assuming it applies.
Full Virginia Seller Closing Cost Breakdown
Transfer taxes are one piece of the seller's cost picture. Below is a realistic settlement statement breakdown for a $700,000 Northern Virginia home, using the regional 0.40 percent grantor's tax and typical HOA charges for the area.
Illustrative settlement statement for a $700,000 Northern Virginia sale. Fee ranges are typical and vary by title company, association and contract terms.
| Cost item | How it is calculated | Estimate on $700K | Negotiable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing commission, traditional 3% | Percentage of sale price | $21,000 | Yes |
| Listing commission, full-service 1.5% | Percentage of sale price | $10,500 | Yes |
| Buyer agent compensation | Percentage of sale price, negotiated | $17,500 at 2.5% | Yes |
| Northern Virginia grantor's tax | $0.40 per $100 | $2,800 | No, statutory |
| Deed preparation fee | Fixed, attorney or title | $200 to $350 | Minimal |
| Settlement or closing fee | Fixed, title company | $400 to $700 | Shop around |
| Title insurance, seller side | Rate filed with the Virginia SCC | $1,200 to $1,800 | Partially |
| HOA transfer and disclosure | Set by the association | $300 to $800 | No |
| Prorated property taxes | Days owned in the tax year | Varies | No |
| Home warranty, optional | Fixed, at buyer request | $400 to $700 | Negotiated |
| Repair credits or concessions | Negotiated | $0 to $5,000 or more | Yes |
The big takeaway: on a $700,000 Northern Virginia sale, the gap between a 3 percent listing fee and a 1.5 percent full-service listing fee is $10,500, several times the entire regional grantor's tax. The listing decision carries far more financial weight than the tax line.
Where Commission Ranks Against Transfer Taxes
Relative share of a $700,000 Northern Virginia seller's costs using a traditional 3 percent listing fee.
Seller Savings Calculator: Where Commission Beats Taxes
Transfer taxes are fixed by law and cannot be negotiated. Your listing fee can be, and it is a much larger number. Select a price tier below to compare net proceeds at a traditional 3 percent listing fee against a 1.5 percent full-service listing fee.
Seller Savings Calculator
How much more do you keep with a 1.5% full-service listing fee?
Pick your price tier to compare net proceeds side by side. Figures assume 2.5% buyer agent compensation and roughly 1% in other closing costs, including transfer taxes.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$7,500
Kept at closing on a $500,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$12,750
Kept at closing on a $850,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$15,000
Kept at closing on a $1,000,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$22,500
Kept at closing on a $1,500,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$30,000
Kept at closing on a $2,000,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$37,500
Kept at closing on a $2,500,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$45,000
Kept at closing on a $3,000,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$52,500
Kept at closing on a $3,500,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Traditional Agent at 3%
Full-Service Listing 1.5%
Difference in listing fee
$60,000
Kept at closing on a $4,000,000 sale, with the same full-service marketing and negotiation.
Illustration only. Figures are rounded estimates based on the assumptions above and are not a quote, an appraisal, or a prediction of your sale price or proceeds. Your actual costs depend on your contract, jurisdiction and settlement provider.
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HOA Transfer and Disclosure Fees in Virginia
Northern Virginia has one of the highest concentrations of association-governed communities in the country. If your property belongs to a homeowners association or a condominium association, expect transfer-related costs at closing that are entirely separate from state taxes.
Under the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act (§ 55.1-1800 et seq.) and the Condominium Act (§ 55.1-1900 et seq.), sellers must provide buyers with a disclosure packet, also called a resale certificate, before the sale is final. The association charges the seller for preparing and delivering it.
Typical Northern Virginia association charges at settlement. Amounts are set by each association and its management company, so confirm yours in writing before listing.
| Fee type | Who pays | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resale disclosure packet | Seller | $200 to $400 | Required by Virginia law and delivered to the buyer |
| Transfer fee | Seller, sometimes split | $150 to $500 | Covers the administrative cost of recording the new owner |
| Condo resale certificate | Seller | $250 to $500 | The condominium equivalent of the disclosure packet |
| Move-in or move-out fee | Set by association rules | $100 to $300 | Building access fee, common in elevator buildings |
| Outstanding assessments | Seller, cleared at settlement | Varies | Must be paid in full before the deed transfers |
| Sub-association and master association fees | Either party, per the governing documents | Additional per association | Large planned communities may have two or three associations |
Multi-association properties: several large Loudoun and Fairfax planned communities carry a master association plus one or more sub-associations. Each can charge its own disclosure and transfer fee, so combined association charges on a single sale can land well above the single-association ranges above.
Your listing agent should pull the association's contact details and fee schedule as part of the pre-listing process. Any outstanding violations or delinquent dues also need to be resolved before closing, which is a common source of delay on Loudoun County resales.
If you are working through a relocation, an estate settlement or a property that needs work, a cash offer can remove showings, repairs and financing contingencies. Transfer taxes still apply, but the rest of the process changes. We will walk you through both paths with no pressure.
What Changed for Virginia Sellers After the NAR Settlement
The NAR commission settlement, whose practice changes took effect in August 2024, altered how buyer agent compensation is handled nationwide. It did not change Virginia's transfer tax law, but it did change the structure of the negotiations that shape your net sheet.
Before the Settlement
- Sellers routinely paid both the listing and the buyer agent commission
- Buyer agent compensation was published as an offer of compensation in the MLS
- Total commission of 5 to 6 percent was the norm and rarely questioned
- Sellers had limited visibility into buyer agent fee structures
Since August 2024
- Buyer agent compensation is negotiated in a written buyer agreement
- Sellers may offer buyer agent compensation as a concession, or decline to
- MLS platforms no longer display blanket offers of compensation
- Compensation terms are disclosed explicitly on both sides
In practice, most Northern Virginia transactions still involve sellers offering some compensation to the buyer's agent, commonly in the 2 to 2.5 percent range, because that keeps a listing competitive with the rest of the inventory a buyer is seeing. It is now a negotiated decision rather than an automatic one, and your listing agent should model both scenarios with you.
What has not changed is the tax side. The grantor's tax is a statutory obligation and nothing in the settlement affected what the courthouse collects.
How to Minimize What You Pay at Closing
Transfer taxes are fixed by statute, so there is no negotiating them down. The total cost of your sale is highly variable, though, and that is where your leverage actually sits.
1. Compare Listing Fee Structures Before You Sign
On a $700,000 home, the gap between a 3 percent listing fee and a 1.5 percent full-service listing fee is $10,500, several times the entire regional grantor's tax. That makes it the highest-leverage line on the settlement statement. Ask any agent you interview what is included at their fee, and compare the flexible commission options available for your price point and service needs.
2. Know Your Assessment Before You Price
Because Virginia taxes the greater of sale price or assessed value, selling below assessment means paying tax on dollars you never received. If your county assessment sits materially above realistic market value, an assessment appeal before listing may be worth the effort.
3. Compare Title and Settlement Fees
Virginia title insurance rates are filed with the State Corporation Commission and do not vary much, but settlement fees, deed preparation charges and wire fees differ between companies by a few hundred dollars. In Northern Virginia the buyer traditionally selects the settlement company, so this is a negotiation item rather than a given.
4. Clear HOA Issues Before Listing
Outstanding violations, unpaid dues or pending special assessments create surprise payoffs and delay closing. Pull your association account status early so nothing new appears on the settlement statement.
5. Understand How Proration Works
Virginia property taxes are billed on a local schedule and prorated at closing. Depending on when your jurisdiction bills and when you settle, you may owe the buyer a credit or receive one. Ask your settlement attorney to model your specific date so the number is not a surprise at the table.
Professional photography, drone video, 3D tours, full MLS syndication and partner-led negotiation from Saad Jamil and Arslan Jamil. Same marketing, same representation, a smaller listing fee line on your settlement statement.
Pre-Close Seller Checklist
Work through this before you go under contract so nothing on the settlement statement catches you off guard.
Virginia Seller Pre-Close Checklist
- Confirm your current county assessed value and whether it sits above or below your expected sale price
- Pull your association account status and clear any violations, dues or special assessments
- Order the resale disclosure packet early, since delivery takes time under Virginia law
- Confirm whether your jurisdiction charges the additional $0.15 per $100 regional fee
- Identify every lien, judgment or second mortgage and confirm payoff amounts
- Request your mortgage payoff statement and note the per diem interest
- Have your agent or settlement attorney model the prorated property tax figure
- Request a seller net sheet based on your expected sale price
- Confirm your listing agreement fee and your buyer agent compensation strategy in writing
- Confirm the settlement company and review their fee schedule
Common Mistakes That Cost Virginia Sellers Money
- Assuming assessed value equals market value, when the two often differ
- Ordering the disclosure packet late, which pushes back closing
- Accepting the first listing fee offered without comparing what is included
- Skipping a net sheet, so a strong-looking price nets less than expected
- Missing a sub-association in a planned community before listing
- Leaving the buyer agent compensation question undecided until an offer arrives
Virginia Seller Timeline: Listing to Settlement
Pre-listing prep, two to four weeks out
Pull the association account status, request the disclosure packet, run a seller net sheet and compare assessed value against market value. Transfer tax estimates are calculated here so you enter the listing with full financial clarity.
Active listing
Photography, 3D tour, MLS syndication and showings. The disclosure packet must reach the buyer inside the contract's review period, which is why ordering it early matters.
Ratified contract to settlement
Title search begins. The settlement company calculates prorated taxes, grantor's tax, association fees and commission. A preliminary settlement statement is typically issued a few business days before closing.
Final statement review
Go through every line with your agent. This is your last clean opportunity to question the grantor's tax calculation, association charges or prorated figures. Errors happen and should be flagged immediately.
Settlement day
The grantor's tax and all seller charges are collected at the table. The title company records the deed with the circuit court, and proceeds are disbursed according to your settlement instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Virginia grantor's tax and how is it calculated?
The Virginia grantor's tax is a transfer tax charged under Virginia Code § 58.1-802 when a property is sold and the deed is recorded. The base rate is $0.25 per $100 of the sale price or assessed value, whichever is greater. In Northern Virginia jurisdictions inside the NVTA transportation district, including Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William and Alexandria, an additional $0.15 per $100 applies, bringing the total to $0.40 per $100. The tax is paid by the seller at the settlement table.
How much will I pay in transfer taxes selling a $700,000 home in Fairfax County?
On a $700,000 Fairfax County home you would pay a combined grantor's tax of $0.40 per $100, totaling $2,800. That is the $0.25 state rate ($1,750) plus the $0.15 regional rate ($1,050). Remember that the tax is calculated on the greater of sale price or county assessment, so if your assessed value exceeds your sale price, the tax is based on the higher figure. Listing commission, settlement fees, association fees and prorated taxes appear separately on your settlement statement.
Who pays transfer taxes in Virginia, the buyer or the seller?
The grantor's tax is the seller's obligation, since it is assessed on the party transferring title. Buyers pay a separate recordation tax on the deed and, if they are financing, a recordation tax on the deed of trust. These are distinct line items. Sellers sometimes offer concessions that help a buyer cover recordation costs, but the grantor's tax itself remains a seller cost.
Which Northern Virginia jurisdictions charge the extra $0.15 per $100 regional fee?
The additional Northern Virginia Transportation Authority fee applies in Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, City of Alexandria, Loudoun County, Prince William County, City of Manassas and City of Manassas Park. If your property sits in any of those, the combined $0.40 per $100 rate applies. Properties in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fauquier and other jurisdictions outside the district pay only the base $0.25 state rate.
Are there exemptions from Virginia real estate transfer taxes?
Yes. Virginia Code § 58.1-811 lists transfers that are exempt or partially exempt, and several come up regularly in family situations: deeds between spouses, transfers made under a divorce decree or property settlement agreement, gift deeds where no consideration passes, and transfers into a revocable trust where the grantor is the beneficiary. Eligibility is fact specific, and an assumed mortgage balance can create taxable consideration on what looks like a gift. The attorney preparing your deed should cite the exemption directly on the recorded instrument.
How did the NAR settlement change what Virginia sellers pay?
The settlement, whose practice changes took effect in August 2024, did not change Virginia's transfer tax law, but it changed how buyer agent compensation is structured. Buyer agent fees are now negotiated in a written buyer agreement and disclosed explicitly rather than published in the MLS. Virginia sellers still frequently offer buyer agent compensation to keep a listing competitive, but the amount is an openly negotiated decision. Transfer taxes are unaffected, since they are statutory.
What are typical total seller closing costs in Northern Virginia?
On a $700,000 Northern Virginia home with a traditional 3 percent listing fee, total seller costs commonly land in the range of roughly 6.5 to 8 percent of the sale price. That includes the listing commission near $21,000, buyer agent compensation near $17,500 at 2.5 percent, the regional grantor's tax of $2,800, title and settlement fees, association transfer and disclosure fees, and prorated taxes. Moving from a 3 percent listing fee to a 1.5 percent full-service listing fee removes $10,500 from that total.
Can I negotiate or avoid Virginia transfer taxes?
Not on a standard arm's length sale. Transfer taxes are statutory, collected at settlement by the title company and remitted to the state and locality. Where sellers do have meaningful control is the listing fee, the buyer agent concession, settlement company selection and association fee timing. Those negotiable items add up to far more than the transfer tax in most transactions, so that is where your attention pays off.
What HOA fees do Northern Virginia sellers pay at closing?
Association charges commonly run a few hundred to well over a thousand dollars depending on the community and whether more than one association is involved. Typical items are the resale disclosure packet, the association transfer fee, and in condominium buildings a move-out fee. Sellers in large planned communities may face both a master association and one or more sub-associations, each with its own charges, so confirm your community's specific fee schedule before listing.
Does Virginia tax the sale price or the assessed value for grantor's tax?
Virginia taxes the greater of the two. In a rising market your sale price is almost always higher than assessment, so the tax follows what you actually receive. In a softening market, or an estate or distressed sale priced below assessment, the tax is calculated on the higher assessed figure. If your assessment is materially above realistic market value, an appeal before listing may be worth considering.
Is there a Virginia real estate transfer tax calculator I can use?
The math is simple enough to do by hand: multiply your sale price by 0.0025 for the base state grantor's tax, or by 0.0040 if your property is inside a Northern Virginia jurisdiction that charges the regional fee. For the full picture, including commission, title fees, association charges and payoff, use our seller net sheet calculator, which returns an estimated bottom line rather than a single tax figure.
Who is the best realtor in Northern Virginia?
In our own view, and we will be upfront that we are describing our own team, The Jamil Brothers Realty Group is a strong choice for Northern Virginia sellers. Saad Jamil and Arslan Jamil have closed 900 or more homes across the DMV, hold NVAR Lifetime Top Producer recognition, carry 500 or more five-star client reviews, and are licensed in Virginia, Maryland, DC and West Virginia. Judge any agent on the criteria that matter to your sale: recent closings in your ZIP code and price band, the marketing they can actually show you, and whether they explain every line of your settlement statement including their own fee. You can compare for yourself on our team page or by calling (703) 782-4830.
What mistakes do Virginia sellers most commonly make at closing?
Four show up repeatedly: accepting a listing fee without comparing what is included at other fee levels, ordering the association disclosure packet too late and delaying settlement, skimming the preliminary settlement statement instead of checking the grantor's tax and association charges line by line, and leaving the buyer agent compensation decision until an offer is already on the table. A prepared listing agent walks you through all four before you list.
Glossary
Grantor's tax
Virginia's seller transfer tax, charged at $0.25 per $100 statewide plus $0.15 per $100 in NVTA jurisdictions, paid at settlement when the deed is recorded.
Recordation tax
A tax on recording the deed and deed of trust, distinct from the grantor's tax and primarily paid by the buyer, with localities able to add their own charge.
NVTA
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, the regional body funded in part by the additional $0.15 per $100 grantor's tax collected in its member jurisdictions.
Taxable consideration
The value exchanged in a transfer, which can include an assumed loan balance. It determines whether a deed that looks like a gift is actually taxable.
Resale disclosure packet
The document package a Virginia association seller must provide to the buyer, covering finances, rules, pending litigation and any violations.
Assessed value
The value your county assigns for property tax purposes. Virginia transfer taxes are calculated on the greater of sale price or assessed value.
Deed of trust
Virginia's form of mortgage instrument, recorded with the county to give the lender a security interest. Its recordation carries its own tax, typically paid by the buyer.
Seller net sheet
A projection of your proceeds after commission, transfer taxes, association fees, liens, closing costs and mortgage payoff.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Virginia real estate transfer taxes begin with the grantor's tax, a known and calculable cost: $0.25 per $100 statewide and $0.40 per $100 across the Northern Virginia jurisdictions that charge the regional fee. It is not negotiable and it is not going away, but in the context of a full settlement statement it is one of the smaller lines.
On a $700,000 Northern Virginia home, that $2,800 tax sits alongside a $21,000 listing commission at a traditional 3 percent fee, or $10,500 at a 1.5 percent full-service fee. Knowing which numbers you control, and which you do not, is what separates a smooth closing from a surprising one.
Sellers who come out ahead are the ones who map their full cost picture before listing rather than after: running a net sheet, confirming association obligations, checking assessed value, and working with an agent who is transparent about every line including their own fee. When you are ready, sell your Virginia home with a plan built around the numbers, or call (703) 782-4830 to talk it through.
Transfer taxes, association fees, commission, prorated taxes and payoff, mapped into one estimated bottom line before you commit to a list price. It takes minutes and there is no obligation.
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What full service at 1.5 percent covers across the DMV.
Read the guideValuation
Assessed Value vs. Market Value in Loudoun County
Why the two figures differ, and why it matters for transfer tax.
Read the guideProperty Tax
Loudoun County Property Taxes When Buying a Home
The other tax line that shows up at settlement.
Read the guideNorthern Virginia Communities and Nearby Areas
Transfer tax rates are set at the jurisdiction level, so where your home sits determines whether you pay $0.25 or $0.40 per $100. Start with your community page below, then work down to your county for the local recording details.
Loudoun County, VA
Sterling
Eastern Loudoun, bordering Fairfax County near Dulles Airport.
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Regional hub
Northern Virginia
The full regional market, covering every NVTA jurisdiction.
View the hubCounty hub
Loudoun County
Northwest of Fairfax, bounded by the Potomac and the Blue Ridge.
View the hubSources and attribution: grantor's tax rates from the Code of Virginia § 58.1-802 and § 58.1-802.2 (regional congestion relief fee); exemption categories from § 58.1-811; association disclosure requirements from the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act (§ 55.1-1800 et seq.) and the Virginia Condominium Act (§ 55.1-1900 et seq.); buyer agent compensation practice changes from the National Association of REALTORS settlement practice changes effective August 2024. Fee ranges shown for title, settlement and association charges are typical Northern Virginia figures from our own transaction experience and are illustrative, not quoted rates. Verified September 25, 2026.
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