Buying a home in Delaware

Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in Delaware.

Effective property tax rate

0.5%

Median tax $1,768 ÷ median value $352,000 (ACS 2020–2024)

Typical home value

$406,074

Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08

Transfer & recording taxes Estimate

$16,243

Total on a $406,074 home; buyer’s typical share $6,121–$8,121.

How we estimated

4% combined realty transfer tax where the local government levies its full 1.5% (state 2.5% + local 1.5%; 30 Del. C. §5402), split equally by law. First-time buyers get 0.5% off the buyer's share on up to $400,000 (max $2,000); the low end of the buyer range reflects that credit. Sources: 30 Del. C. ch. 54 · Delaware Division of Revenue: First-Time Home Buyer. Checked 2026-10-15.

Buyer’s transfer & recording taxes Estimate

$6,121–$8,121

On a $406,074 home. Lender fees and title insurance aren’t included because we don’t have a sourced figure for them in Delaware. Estimate the rest.

At Delaware's effective rate of 0.5%, a typical $406,074 home would owe about $2,030/year ($169/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

Delaware State Housing Authority

Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit Delaware State Housing Authority →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-10-15.