Buying a home in Virginia

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

Effective property tax rate

0.73%

Median tax $2,790 ÷ median value $383,700 (ACS 2020–2024)

Typical home value

$414,662

Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08

Transfer & recording taxes Estimate

$1,797

Total on a $414,662 home; buyer’s typical share $1,382.

How we estimated

State recordation tax of $0.25 per $100 (Va. Code §58.1-801) plus up to one-third more in local recordation tax (§58.1-3800), customarily paid by the buyer; grantor tax of $0.50 per $500 (§58.1-802), paid by the seller. Some Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads localities add regional congestion-relief fees, which are not included. Sources: Va. Code §58.1-801 · §58.1-802 · §58.1-3800. Checked 2026-10-15.

Buyer’s transfer & recording taxes Estimate

$1,382

On a $414,662 home. Lender fees and title insurance aren’t included because we don’t have a sourced figure for them in Virginia. Estimate the rest.

At Virginia's effective rate of 0.73%, a typical $414,662 home would owe about $3,027/year ($252/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

Virginia Housing

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

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.