Sellers in Virginia can expect to pay an average of 3.01% of their home's sale price in closing costs. For a $382,958 home — the median home value in Virginia — you'd pay about $11,534.
For most sellers, closing costs are simply deducted from the total sales profits. If closing costs exceed the amount you earn from the sale, you'll have to cover the difference out of pocket — but this rarely happens.
For sellers in Virginia, realtor commission fees tend to be the most expensive cost of selling a home. However, you can save thousands on real estate agent commissions by using an agent-matching service like Clever Real Estate.
Clever pre-negotiates low listing fees with highly experienced agents across the country to help you keep more money in your pocket after selling your home.
Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from trusted brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.
Get guaranteed full service for a fraction of the 3% rate agents typically charge. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a top local agent today!
Keep reading to learn which closing costs you're responsible for as a seller Virginia and how much you can expect to pay for each of them. Need estimates for your sale? You'll also find our Virginia seller closing costs calculator!
How much are seller closing costs in Virginia?
Closing costs for sellers include all the fees due when you complete your Virginia home sale. These expenses are required in order to transfer legal ownership of the property to your buyer.
In Virginia, you'll pay about 3.01% of your home's final sale price in closing costs, not including realtor fees.
This number is only an estimate — your expenses may differ depending on your unique situation. Although closing costs are unavoidable, you can negotiate for your buyer to pay some of them.
For best results, work with an agent who has plenty of negotiation experience. Clever can help by matching you with a top local realtor who will negotiate on your behalf and help you make the most of your sale.
» MORE: See how Clever can match you with a local expert
Who pays closing costs in Virginia?
Buyers and sellers both have to pay unique closing costs to finalize a home sale. In Virginia, it's common for sellers to pay title and closing service fees, owner's title insurance policy, transfer taxes, and recording fees.
Title fees: 0.54%
Title fees cover the costs of your title search and title transfer.
When you sell your home, you'll need to transfer legal ownership of the property to your buyer. Before this can happen, your settlement agent will perform a title search to make sure there aren't liens or claims against your property.
Buyers and sellers in Virginia usually pay for their own closing agent or title company, but not always. Ask your realtor if you're not sure which fees you'll need to pay.
Owner's title insurance: 0.31%
An owner's title insurance policy protects your buyer if there's a problem with the property title. A few common issues can include clerical errors or ownership disputes over the home. Title insurance will cover any necessary legal fees or possibly reimburse the value of a home if mistakes are made.
In Virginia, title insurance usually costs around 0.31% of your home's final sale price — or $1,196 for a $382,958 home. Most title companies in Virginia use a tiered pricing system to determine the cost of a policy based on the value of your property.
Although it's common for the buyer to pay for their own title insurance policy in Virginia, some sellers may cover this closing cost.
» MORE: What is title insurance, and why do you need it?
Virginia transfer tax: 0.05%
Virginia will charge you about 0.05% of your property's final sale price to transfer the title to the new owner. For a $382,958 house — the median home value in Virginia — you'd pay around $191.
Unlike other states, Virginia actually charges a few different transfer taxes that are typically split between the buyer and the seller. These include state transfer taxes, grantor taxes, and city or county transfer taxes.
In some northern Virginia counties, for instance, sellers are taxed an additional $0.15 per $100 of their property's sale price — or about 0.15%.
To find out how much you'll owe in transfer taxes based on your location, check with your realtor.
» FIND: Learn more about transfer taxes in Virginia
Virginia recording fees: $234
Your county or city will charge a fee to legally record your property's mortgage and deed information. This fee can vary slightly based on your location, but you can expect to pay around $234 in Virginia. This is another fee you might be able to negotiate for the buyer to cover.
Most counties will have information about their recording fees on their websites. For example, Fauquier County charges $26 to process and record real estate documents with fewer than 10 pages and $40 for documents between 11 and 30 pages. Prince William County similarly charges $23 for documents up to 11 pages and $37 for documents between 11 and 30 pages.
Check out your county's website to see exactly how much you'll pay in recording fees.
Buyer incentives: 2%
Buyer incentives are a way to appeal to house hunters and encourage more potential buyers to put in an offer. Common incentives include paying for some of the buyer's closing costs, providing repair credits, or including valuable items — like appliances or new furniture — in the final sale.
On average, sellers spend around $7,659 for buyer incentives in Virginia.
Don't forget about property taxes!
When you sell a home in Virginia, you'll still have to pay property taxes for the months you owned the property. Using this prorated system, you won't be on the hook for the full 12 months of taxes. However, this does make it more difficult to estimate how much you'll owe at closing.
The average property tax rate in Virginia is #N/A, but this can vary quite a bit depending on your county.
For instance, Manassas Park City has the highest property tax rate in the state at 1.27%. Meanwhile, Amelia residents have the lowest property tax rate at just 0.40%.
Be sure to check with your real estate agent so you can find out exactly you'll need to pay in property taxes.
Other Virginia closing costs for sellers
All home sales are unique, so even the most prepared sellers in Virginia can end up with a few surprise fees. For example, you may want a real estate attorney to oversee the sale of your Virginia Beach vacation home, or you might need an appraisal for your historic Charlottesville house.
» LEARN: The total cost of selling a house
Regardless of your circumstances, you should be prepared to handle a couple unforeseen expenses. Here are a few of the most common miscellaneous costs:
- Homeowners Association (HOA) fees
- Mortgage payoff and/or prepayment penalties
- Property appraisal fees
- Settlement or attorney fees
Finding a local expert with plenty of experience in your neighborhood is a great way to save. Knowledgeable realtors in your area will be able to explain which fees to expect or if they change based on the unique features of your Virginia neighborhood.
An experienced agent will also be tuned in to local trends and understand which features buyers want the most in their new home. When you use Clever, you'll be paired with a top local realtor with the insights you need to maximize your profits.
Get matched with the best local agents from top brokerages and get pre-negotiated listing fees of just 1.5%.
Clever's service is 100% free, with zero obligation. Interview as many agents as you like until you find the perfect fit — or walk away at any time.
Virginia closing costs calculator
Your closing costs will ultimately vary based on your home's value, local fees, and negotiations with your buyer.
Use this Virginia closing costs calculator to better understand how much money you'll actually take home after closing.
How to save on Virginia closing costs
Although closing costs aren't usually the biggest expense for sellers in Virginia, there are a few things you can do to reduce these fees.
Shop around for better prices
It's possible for some sellers to save money by shopping around for lower rates on closing costs and fees.
However, these costs are generally pretty low and fairly consistent between different companies. When you already need to juggle various fees for inspections, repairs, and appraisals, checking out several companies for a $50 discount probably isn't worth your time.
Negotiate for the buyer to pay
In a hot seller's market where there are more buyers than available homes, you can ask the buyer to cover some of your closing costs.
Buyers expect fierce competition in these market conditions, so they might compromise on certain fees so you'll accept their offer on your Virginia home.
» MORE: How to negotiate with buyers before accepting an offer
Save on realtor fees
The best way to reduce your selling costs is to find a realtor who charges lower listing fees. In Virginia, real estate commission costs an average of $19,990 — that's usually more expensive than the rest of your closing costs combined!
Thankfully, there's a way to save big by selling with Clever. With listing fees of just 1.5%, you'll save up to 50% on realtor commission, putting more money in your pocket.
Clever matches you with top-rated agents from major brokerages, like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. Sellers get pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fees. Buyers can get cash back after closing!
Clever's service is 100% free with no obligation. Interview as many agents as you like until you find the perfect fit — or walk away at any time.
Frequently asked questions
How much are seller closing costs in Virginia?
In Virginia, expect to pay about 3.01% of your home’s sale price in closing costs — not including realtor fees. At the median home value of $382,958, this equates to around $11,534 at closing. Learn more about what makes up seller closing costs in Virginia.
Who pays closing costs in Virginia?
Buyers and sellers each pay for different closing costs to finalize a sale. In Virginia, sellers typically pay for title fees, transfer taxes, owner's title insurance expenses, and recording fees at closing. Learn more about who pays closing costs in Virginia.
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