Closing costs
Closing costs in District of Columbia
In District of Columbia, an attorney is customarily involved in the closing, and District of Columbia levies a transfer/deed tax of about 1.1%, customarily buyer-paid. recordation ~1.1–1.45% (buyer) + transfer ~1.1–1.45% (seller); first-time-buyer recordation 0.725% ≤ $400k — confirm locally. Here's roughly what you'll pay and what each line is.
How much are closing costs in District of Columbia?
Estimated buyer closing costs in District of Columbia (on top of your down payment), for a single-family home with 10% down and good credit:
| Home price | Estimated closing costs |
|---|---|
| $300,000 | $10,244–$13,794 |
| $400,000 | $12,842–$16,942 |
| $500,000 | $15,440–$20,090 |
Illustrative estimates — a single-family home, conventional loan, 10% down, good credit. Your real figures come from your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure. Sourced inside this estimate: the county recording fee (LegalClarity (2026) — flat clerk recording fee, not value-based), the District of Columbia property-tax escrow (Construction Coverage 'Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest?' (2026 ed.), US Census 2024 ACS effective owner-occupied rate; pub. 2026-02-09), and the transfer tax and who conducts the closing (both cited below). The dollar ranges behind it — loan origination, the appraisal, title insurance, homeowners insurance, and the attorney or settlement fee — are typical ranges rather than sourced figures: they vary by lender, provider, and market.
Who closes, and transfer taxes, in District of Columbia
District of Columbia typically involves an attorney for parts of the closing (such as deed or title work).
District of Columbia levies a transfer/deed tax of about 1.1%, customarily buyer-paid. recordation ~1.1–1.45% (buyer) + transfer ~1.1–1.45% (seller); first-time-buyer recordation 0.725% ≤ $400k — confirm locally
Who conducts the closing: DocJacket / ALTA (2026), Superior Notary Services, HomeLight — cross-referenced; practice varies and changes, confirm locally. Transfer tax: each state's own transfer-tax statute or revenue department, read directly (NY: NY Dept. of Taxation & Finance); accessed July 2026.
What the District of Columbia transfer tax costs at closing
In District of Columbia this one is customarily the buyer's, so budget the full amount as cash you bring to closing.
| Home price | Transfer tax on the sale | Your share |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $3,300 | $3,300 |
| $400,000 | $4,400 | $4,400 |
| $500,000 | $5,500 | $5,500 |
State rate applied to the sale price at 1.1%. Counties and cities can levy their own on top, so treat this as the state floor rather than the whole bill. Source: each state's own transfer-tax statute or revenue department, read directly (NY: NY Dept. of Taxation & Finance); accessed July 2026
The District of Columbia property-tax escrow you prepay
A chunk of your closing costs is not a fee at all — it is money set aside up front to seed your escrow account. Because District of Columbia taxes property at about 0.888% a year, that prepaid slice is close to the national norm here.
| Home price | Annual tax in District of Columbia | ~2 months prepaid |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $2,664 | $444 |
| $400,000 | $3,552 | $592 |
| $500,000 | $4,440 | $740 |
~0.89% US average (2024 ACS) — varies by state and county. Source: Construction Coverage 'Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest?' (2026 ed.), US Census 2024 ACS effective owner-occupied rate; pub. 2026-02-09. The two-month cushion is a common lender practice, not a District of Columbia rule — your Loan Estimate states the exact figure.
Plan for the full cash to close
Closing costs are only part of the cash you'll need. The down payment is the rest. Map your full savings target:
See your real numbers for District of Columbia
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