Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax Seller Closing Costs (2026)
Selling a home in Arlington or Fairfax County costs less in transfer taxes than almost anywhere else in the Washington area. In Virginia, the seller pays only a small grantor's tax plus two regional transportation fees, while the buyer pays most of the recording taxes. On a $1.2 million sale, the seller's share of those taxes comes to about $3,600. The same sale in Montgomery County would cost the seller close to $18,000 (see Montgomery County transfer and recordation taxes for sellers).
Transfer taxes are only one line on the settlement statement, though. This guide walks through every cost a seller in Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, the City of Falls Church and Fairfax County (including McLean) should plan for, what each one is, and who pays it.
The Three Virginia Taxes and Fees the Seller Pays
In Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax County, three charges come out of the seller's proceeds when the deed is recorded. All three are based on the sale price.
- Grantor's tax: $0.50 per $500 of the sale price, which works out to 0.10%.
- Regional congestion relief fee: $0.10 per $100, another 0.10%. The money stays in the region for transportation.
- Regional WMATA capital fee: $0.10 per $100, another 0.10%, which goes toward Metro.
Together that is 0.30% of the sale price. These are the rates the Fairfax Circuit Court lists in its fee schedule effective July 1, 2026, and the same two regional fees apply in Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and the City of Falls Church, which are all part of the same regional transportation district.
What the Buyer Pays (So You Can Read the Settlement Statement)
The larger recording taxes in Virginia fall on the buyer. The buyer pays the state recordation tax of $0.25 per $100 (0.25%) and a local recordation tax equal to one-third of the state tax, which is about 0.083%. On a $1.2 million purchase, that is roughly $3,000 plus $1,000. You will see these on the buyer's side of the statement, not yours.
That split is the main reason Virginia closings feel lighter for sellers than closings in DC or Maryland. If you are comparing markets, our guides to DC transfer tax for sellers and Montgomery County transfer and recordation taxes show how the same sale works across the river.
Example: A $1.2 Million Sale in Arlington or McLean
| Seller tax or fee | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grantor's tax | $0.50 per $500 | $1,200 |
| Regional congestion relief fee | $0.10 per $100 | $1,200 |
| Regional WMATA capital fee | $0.10 per $100 | $1,200 |
| Total seller taxes and fees | 0.30% | $3,600 |
At other prices, the seller's share is about $2,400 on an $800,000 sale, $4,500 on a $1.5 million sale, and $7,500 on a $2.5 million sale. Each charge is rounded up to the next $500 or $100 of price, so the real figure can be a few dollars higher.
The Other Costs Sellers Should Plan For
Mortgage payoff and release
Your lender is paid in full at settlement, including interest through the payoff date. The settlement company also records a release of your deed of trust, which carries a small recording fee.
Deed preparation and settlement fees
In Virginia the seller usually pays to have the new deed prepared, plus the seller's share of the settlement company's fees. Ask your settlement company for its fee sheet early so there are no surprises.
Real estate tax proration
Each locality bills real estate tax in two halves, but the due dates differ (see the table below), and Falls Church bills on a July-to-June fiscal year instead of the calendar year. At settlement, the tax is divided by the day: you pay for the days you owned the home, and the buyer pays for the rest. Depending on when you close, you may get a credit back for a half you have already paid.
HOA or condo resale certificate
If your home is in a condominium or a community with a homeowners association, Virginia law requires the seller to order a resale certificate from the association and deliver it to the buyer. The association has 14 days to provide it, and the fees it can charge are capped by the state. Once the buyer receives it, the buyer has a short window, three days unless the contract says otherwise, to review it and cancel. Order the certificate as soon as you decide to list so it does not hold up your timeline.
Commission and any agreed credits
Your listing agreement sets the commission, and any closing-cost help or repair credits you agree to in the contract also come out of your proceeds. For a full picture of what you walk away with, see seller net proceeds in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
When your proceeds arrive
Signing at the settlement table is not the moment your money is released. In Virginia, the settlement company first has to record the deed in the land records, and only after that can it pay out your proceeds. Most of the time the money reaches you the next business day, about 24 hours after you sign, and the law requires the settlement company to record and pay out within two business days of settlement. If you need the funds the same day, for example to settle on your next home, plan for that gap with your settlement company and lender ahead of time. Maryland works differently: in Montgomery County, the settlement company does not have to wait for the deed to be recorded, so sellers there can be paid on the day of settlement.
Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax County Side by Side
The seller's transfer taxes are the same in all four places, so the $3,600 example above holds whether the home is in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church or McLean. What changes is where the deed is recorded and how the real estate tax is prorated.
| Arlington County | City of Alexandria | City of Falls Church | Fairfax County (incl. McLean) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deed recorded at | Arlington Circuit Court | Alexandria Circuit Court | Arlington Circuit Court | Fairfax Circuit Court |
| Seller taxes and fees | 0.30% | 0.30% | 0.30% | 0.30% |
| Real estate tax rate (per $100 of assessed value) | $1.053 | $1.135 | $1.18 | $1.12, plus a small McLean Community Center district tax in McLean |
| Tax year | Calendar year | Calendar year | July 1 to June 30 | Calendar year |
| Real estate tax due | June 15 and October 5 | June 15 and mid-November | December 5 and June 5 | July 28 and December 5 |
Two details catch sellers by surprise. Falls Church is its own city, separate from Fairfax County, but its deeds are recorded at the Arlington Circuit Court. And some homes with an Alexandria mailing address are actually in Fairfax County, so they follow Fairfax's tax rate and due dates and their deeds are recorded in Fairfax, not at the Alexandria courthouse.
Timing matters too. Once you accept an offer, the steps to settlement follow a set order, and our guide to what happens after a seller accepts an offer walks through them. If your buyer's offer depends on selling their own home, see Virginia home sale contingencies and active status.
Work With Sherine
Sherine Monir is a Realtor with Compass and also a licensed Interior Designer in DC. She represents sellers and buyers in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and McLean, and she can turn the numbers in this guide into a net estimate for your own home. Sherine also works in Upper Northwest DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase MD and Chevy Chase DC. To see what your home could sell for, request a home value estimate or read the selling guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the seller's transfer tax in Arlington and Fairfax County?
The seller pays three charges: the grantor's tax of $0.50 per $500, a regional congestion relief fee of $0.10 per $100, and a regional WMATA capital fee of $0.10 per $100. Together they come to 0.30% of the sale price, or about $3,600 on a $1.2 million home.
Who pays the recordation tax in Virginia, the buyer or the seller?
The buyer. The buyer pays the state recordation tax of $0.25 per $100 and the local recordation tax, which is one-third of the state tax. The seller pays the grantor's tax and the two regional fees.
Are seller closing costs lower in Virginia than in DC or Maryland?
Yes, for transfer taxes. On a $1.2 million sale, the seller's share is about $3,600 in Arlington or Fairfax County, compared with close to $18,000 in Montgomery County.
Does the seller have to pay for the HOA or condo resale certificate in Virginia?
The seller must order the resale certificate from the association and provide it to the buyer. The association's fees for preparing it are capped by Virginia law.
How are property taxes handled at settlement in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax?
They are divided by the day. The seller pays for the days they owned the home in the current tax period, and the buyer pays for the rest. Arlington's halves are due June 15 and October 5, Alexandria's June 15 and mid-November, and Fairfax County's July 28 and December 5. Falls Church bills on a July-to-June fiscal year, with halves due December 5 and June 5.
When does the seller get paid after settlement in Virginia?
After the deed is recorded. The settlement company records the deed first and then releases the seller's proceeds, usually the next business day. By law it must record and pay out within two business days of settlement.
Sources
Fairfax Circuit Court, Land Records Recordation Taxes and Fees (effective July 1, 2026)
City of Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court, Land Records Fee Changes
Arlington Circuit Court, Land Records Division
Arlington County, Real Estate Taxes and Payments
Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration, Payments FAQ
Arlington County, Adopted Tax Rates
City of Alexandria, Real Estate Tax Information
Fairfax County, FY 2027 Budget and Real Estate Tax Rate
Falls Church News-Press, City of Falls Church FY 2027 Budget
Virginia DPOR, Resale Disclosure Act notice
NVAR, What to Know About the Virginia Resale Disclosure Act
Code of Virginia, Duties of Settlement Agents
Rates as of November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice; your settlement company will calculate the exact figures for your sale.
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