State guide · VA
Closing costs in Virginia
On a median-priced Virginia home ($400,000), buyers typically bring $8,000–$20,000 to the closing table beyond the down payment — with Virginia's transfer tax and its title company closing convention shaping where you land in that range.
Typical buyer costs
$8,000–$20,000
Transfer tax
0.35%
Closing style
title company
What's inside the number: lender fees and any points (the part you can shop hardest), prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance, title search and title insurance, recording fees, and the transfer tax. Virginia runs title company closings: title company closing; attorney or title agent may conduct settlement.
Virginia's transfer tax alone is roughly $1,400 on a median home — customarily paid by buyer pays recordation; seller pays grantor's tax. Details and local add-ons are on our Virginia transfer tax page.
The most effective ways to shrink the bill: shop three or more lenders and compare Section A of their Loan Estimates (see how to choose a lender), ask the seller for a closing credit as part of your offer, and shop the title agency where your state allows it. Line-item what to expect with the closing cost estimator.
Common questions
How much are closing costs in Virginia?
Buyers typically pay 2-5% of the purchase price — about $8,000 to $20,000 on a median-priced Virginia home ($400,000). The biggest swings come from lender fees and points, prepaid taxes and insurance, the transfer tax, and title costs.
Do I need an attorney to close on a home in Virginia?
Not required. Title company closing; attorney or title agent may conduct settlement. Hiring your own attorney is still a reasonable choice for unusual deals — estates, FSBOs, or anything contested.
Who pays the transfer tax in Virginia?
Buyer pays recordation; seller pays grantor's tax. State recordation tax of 0.25% (buyer) plus grantor's tax of 0.1% (seller), plus regional additions in Northern Virginia. Custom controls the default, but the purchase contract can move it — it's a negotiable line like everything else at the table.
Estimate your Virginia closing costs
A line-item estimate — lender fees, title and escrow, prepaids — so the number on closing day doesn't surprise you.
Open the closing cost estimatorRanges apply the typical national 2–5% of purchase price to Virginia's approximate median home value — a planning estimate, not a quote. Lender fees depend on your loan; your official Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure are the real numbers.