Closing Costs in Virginia: Recordation Tax and Settlement

Virginia has moderate closing costs (2-3% of home price). The state plus local recordation tax (~0.33% combined) is paid by the buyer. Property tax effective rate is moderate (0.87%). Title insurance and settlement fees are competitive.

Use the calculator below — your state has already been selected. Adjust the home price, down payment, and loan type for an estimate calibrated to Virginia.

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Estimates only — your actual closing costs depend on lender, property, locality, and the specifics of your transaction. Not financial advice. Verify all figures with a licensed lender or attorney. See our methodology below.

VA closing cost specifics

1. Recordation tax — buyer pays

Virginia state recordation tax is $0.25 per $100 (0.25%), plus local recordation up to $0.0833 per $100 (~0.08%). Combined ~0.33%, paid by the buyer.

2. Grantor tax — seller pays

Virginia's grantor tax ($0.50 per $1,000, 0.05%) is paid by the seller — small but adds to the buyer's tax-free pool.

3. Property tax escrow

VA effective rate is 0.87%. On a $400K home, $3,480/year. 3 months at closing: $870.

4. No attorney requirement

Virginia uses settlement agent closings (title companies). Attorney optional. Cost $700-$1,200 if hired.

How to reduce VA closing costs

  1. Verify your county's local recordation rate — most are 0.083% but some vary.
  2. Negotiate seller-paid closing costs aggressively in slower markets.
  3. Shop title insurance. Competitive market in VA.
  4. Get three Loan Estimates — pricing varies in Northern VA market.
  5. For new construction in Northern VA, watch builder lender steering — closing cost credits often come with higher rates.

Frequently asked questions (Virginia)

Who pays the recordation tax in Virginia?

The buyer pays state recordation tax (0.25%) and local recordation tax (~0.083%). Combined ~0.33% of home price.

Does VA require an attorney for closings?

No. Virginia uses settlement agent closings (title companies). Attorney is optional. The settlement agent handles document preparation and recording.

What's the grantor tax in VA?

A small seller-paid tax of $0.50 per $1,000 of home value (0.05%). Adds to seller-side closing costs but doesn't affect the buyer directly.

Closing costs on a $500K Northern VA home?

Roughly $10,000-$15,000 for the buyer. Recordation tax (~$1,650), title insurance ($2,500), prepaid escrows ($1,800), lender fees ($3,000), other ($1,000).

About these estimates

The calculator above uses Virginia state averages for transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance, attorney requirements, and property tax rates — sourced from the Virginia Department of Revenue, the 2024 ClosingCorp survey, the Tax Foundation 2024 property tax rankings, and state-specific regulatory tariffs. Real closing costs depend on your specific lender, the property, and the county-level rules where you're buying. For a sanity check on the calculator's output, request a Loan Estimate from your lender (federal law requires one within 3 business days of mortgage application).

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Reviewed by the CalcCottage editorial team. Updated May 14, 2026. Estimates only — not financial advice.

Closing costs in other states