Costs to buy a house in Washington D.C. | Washington D.C. closing costs | Washington D.C. house buying calculator | Homeownership costs | How to save when buying a home in Washington D.C.
The average home buyer in Washington D.C. spends between $49,409 and $157,658 when purchasing a $549,547 home — the state median value.
Keep in mind, this is just the cost of buying a home. After you close, you'll still need to budget for all the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Luckily, Clever Real Estate can help make buying a home more affordable. Working with a Clever agent means you'll not only get great service from start to finish, but you could also be eligible for up to 0.5% cash back after closing. That's about $2,748 back on an average-priced home in Washington D.C.!
Put money back in your pocket with Clever Cash Back. Clever will connect you with a top, local agent and send you a check after closing.
✅ Work with a full-service realtor from a top broker
✅ Eligible buyers can get cash back
✅ Clever is 100% free, with zero obligation
Average cost to buy a house in Washington D.C.
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Earnest money deposit (1-3%) | $5,495 to $16,486 |
| Down payment (3.5-20%) | $19,234 to $109,909 |
| Cash reserves | $5,885 to $8,828 |
| Closing costs (3.11%) | $17,067 |
| Inspection | $250 |
| Appraisal | $227 |
| Moving | $1,250 to $4,890 |
| Total | $49,409 to $157,658 |
Buyer closing costs in Washington D.C.
While the other costs to buy a house in Washington D.C. are pretty transparent, Washington D.C. closing costs are a bit more nuanced. They're actually a series of smaller costs lumped together into one total. Here's a breakdown of all of the Washington D.C. closing costs you'll likely pay when buying a home.
| Closing cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Closing fee | $550 |
| Recording fee | $1,520 |
| Title service fees | $948 |
| Origination fee | $2,748 |
| Underwriting fee | $600 |
| Discount points | $4,396 per point |
| Lender's title insurance | $260 |
| Owner's title insurance | Typically paid by seller |
| Prorated property tax | Varies |
| Recordation Tax | 1.10% |
| Total | $17,067 |
Keep in mind, closing costs are often negotiable. However, to win the negotiation battle, you'll need a great agent who can work out a deal with the seller. Clever can match you with a top agent in your area that can get the seller to shoulder more of the above costs.
Contact us at Clever for top agent recommendations.Cost to buy a house in Washington D.C. calculator
Ongoing costs of homeownership in Washington D.C.
Unfortunately, the cost to buy a house is just the beginning. After closing, you'll officially own the home and begin paying for the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Besides the expenses outlined above, you'll also want to consider private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowner's association (HOA) fees.
- If you pay less than 20% as a down payment on your house, you'll probably have to pay PMI monthly until you get to 20% equity. For the average Washington D.C. homeowner, this is between $239 to $809 a month.
- Some neighborhoods have HOA fees for the care and maintenance of common areas. The national average is around $250 per month.
» MORE: The true cost of homeownership
Top ways to save money when buying a house in Washington D.C.
1. Look into better financing options
Paying off debts and getting your credit in the best shape possible before applying for a loan will help you get a better interest rate, which will lower your monthly payments for the life of the loan.
You can also shop around to compare lenders so you get the lowest fees and interest rates available. It may be a good idea to enlist the help of a mortgage broker if you're not sure how to go about vetting lenders.
2. Participate in home buyer programs Washington D.C.
There are a few programs in the District of Columbia that can make homeownership more affordable.
Low-income and first-time home buyers can apply for the DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Home Purchase Assistance (HPAP) program. Eligible participants can receive up to $80,000 in gap financing and an additional $4,000 in closing cost assistance. Meanwhile, the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) lists several available programs for eligible buyers in the state, ranging from low-interest loans to mortgage credit certificates.
» MORE: First-time home buyer programs everyone should know about
3. Partner with an expert agent
Some real estate companies, like Clever, offer home buyers a percentage of their home's price back after the sale finalizes.
That means if you work with a Clever agent, you'll not only get the expertise that helps you get the best deal possible — you could also get up to 0.5% of your home price back after closing!
Clever matches you with top local agents so you can compare options and choose the best fit. And eligible buyers can get cash back after closing.
Fill out the form below and get started now. Clever's service is 100% free with no obligation.
