What makes Fairfax County different from the rest of Virginia
Virginia buyers pay the state recordation tax of $0.25 per $100 (0.25%) on the deed plus a local share; the grantor's tax is the seller's. The county's average effective property-tax rate of 1.00% sets your escrow prepaids: at the $720,000 county median that's roughly $7,200 a year, about $3,600 collected at the closing table.
Recordation tax is the buyer's line here
Unlike most states, Virginia puts the deed recordation tax on the buyer — about $1,800 on a $720K purchase, plus roughly a third of that again as the local share. There's also a separate recordation tax on the deed of trust, so budget both.
Cutting your Northern Virginia closing costs
Three moves that work in Fairfax County: (1) collect Loan Estimates from three lenders on the same day — origination, points and lender credits swing by thousands; (2) negotiate seller concessions (3% conventional under 10% down, 6% above, 6% FHA/VA) and take them as a closing credit rather than a price cut; (3) close in the last week of the month to shrink prepaid interest from roughly 30 days to two. Where a transfer or recordation tax is customarily split, that split is a contract term, not a law — ask.
FAQ
How much are closing costs in Fairfax County, Virginia?
Plan on roughly $18,000–$32,400 of buyer closing costs at the $720,000 Fairfax County median, on top of your down payment. Virginia buyers pay the state recordation tax of $0.25 per $100 (0.25%) on the deed plus a local share; the grantor's tax is the seller's.
Does the buyer pay transfer tax in Fairfax County?
Yes — buyers here typically carry about 0.25% of the purchase price in transfer, recordation or mortgage tax. Virginia buyers pay the state recordation tax of $0.25 per $100 (0.25%) on the deed plus a local share; the grantor's tax is the seller's.
What are property taxes in Fairfax County?
The county's average effective rate is about 1.00% of market value, so a $720,000 home runs roughly $7,200 a year. Individual parcels vary by municipality, school district and special assessments — check the parcel's actual bill, not the county average.
How much cash do I need to buy a house in Northern Virginia?
Down payment + closing costs + reserves. At the Fairfax County median with 10% down, that's about $97,200 before reserves. Run your own price and rate above for the exact stack.
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