Virginia Closing Costs for Buyers: How Much You'll Pay

Transfer tax in Virginia

Virginia's system splits into a grantee-paid state+local recordation tax on the deed (state $0.25/$100 plus local up to 1/3 of that, roughly $0.333/$100 combined) and a grantor-paid additional tax (state $0.10/$100, plus regional add-ons of up to $0.20/$100 more in Northern Virginia). A further deed-of-trust recordation tax (also state $0.25/$100 on the loan amount, § 58.1-803) applies separately when the purchase is financed.

Who pays: Split by statute: the grantee (buyer) pays the state and local recordation tax on the deed (§§ 58.1-801, 58.1-814) and typically the deed-of-trust tax on their own financing; the grantor (seller) pays the additional grantor's tax and any regional WMATA/congestion/Hampton Roads fees (§§ 58.1-802, 58.1-802.3, 58.1-802.4, 58.1-802.5), though each of these grantor-side taxes explicitly allows the parties to shift payment to the grantee by agreement. Source

Worked example: On a $462,400 home purchased outside Northern Virginia/Hampton Roads: buyer-paid state+local deed recordation tax is about $1,541 ($1,156 state at $0.25/$100 + $385 local at 1/3 of that); seller-paid grantor's tax is about $462 ($0.10/$100). In Northern Virginia, the seller also owes the $0.10/$100 WMATA fee ($462) and $0.10/$100 congestion relief fee ($462), adding about $925 more to the seller's side. A separate deed-of-trust recordation tax applies to the loan amount when the purchase is financed.

How much is title insurance in Virginia?

On a $462,400 home in Virginia, an owner's title policy costs about $2,337 and the lender's policy about $200 when both are issued together (the simultaneous-issue discount). The buyer pays the lender's policy; who pays the owner's policy is a matter of local custom and contract. Virginia is a filed-competitive state: each title insurer files its own rates, so premiums differ by company and it pays to get two quotes. Premiums computed from First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Fairfax County, Virginia, read September 11, 2026.

Owner's policy on the full $462,400 price and the lender's policy on an 80% loan ($369,920), quoted together so the simultaneous-issue rate applies; First American filed rates for Fairfax County.

Virginia-specific buyer costs on a $462,400 home

These are the line items set by Virginia law or filed rates. Lender fees, appraisal, escrow and prepaid taxes and insurance come on top and depend on your loan.

Recording fees

Recording the deed costs $18 and the mortgage $18 at the Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk (fees set statewide by Va. Code § 17.1-275; Fairfax is Virginia's largest county). Fee schedule

Other Virginia specifics

• Longer-document recording fee tiers. Virginia's statutory circuit court clerk recording fee is $18 for a deed or deed of trust of 10 or fewer pages, $32 for 11-30 pages, and $52 for 31 or more pages (Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(2)); the $18 figure above assumes a short instrument. A $3.50 portion of each fee funds preservation of court records. Source
• Deed of trust recordation tax. Separate from the deed recordation tax, financed purchases owe a state recordation tax on the deed of trust of $0.25 per $100 of the loan amount (Va. Code § 58.1-803), generally paid by the buyer/borrower. Source

How much are closing costs in Virginia?

For a buyer, closing costs usually run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Virginia's median-priced home (about $462,400), that is roughly $9,248 to $23,120, and it is separate from your down payment. The exact figure depends on your lender, your loan, and local taxes.

What closing costs include

Closing costs are a bundle of one-time fees due at settlement: lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Virginia transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.

Why Virginia closing costs vary

The single biggest reason closing costs differ from state to state is transfer taxes, which states and sometimes counties and cities charge on the sale. Title insurance customs and whether an attorney is required at settlement also matter.

How a rebate offsets Virginia closing costs

Buyer commission rebates are legal in Virginia. Because a rebate can be paid as a credit at closing, it can erase a meaningful share of these costs. On a $462,400 home, a 2% rebate is about $9,248, often enough to cover much of the closing bill.

See Virginia buyer rebates and how to get one →

Sources

• Virginia transfer tax statute
• Who pays the transfer tax
• Northern Virginia (all localities in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority: Arlington, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Loudoun, Prince William, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park) transfer tax
• Hampton Roads transportation district (localities in the district created under § 33.2-1903) transfer tax
• Any city or county (local recordation tax) transfer tax
• First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Fairfax County, Virginia, read September 11, 2026
• Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk (fees set statewide by Va. Code § 17.1-275; Fairfax is Virginia's largest county) recording fees
• Deed of trust recordation tax
• Va. Code § 58.1-802.4, Regional congestion relief fee
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: buyer closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the purchase price

Virginia figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.