Home buying guide
Buying a home in District of Columbia
District of Columbia's effective property-tax rate is about 0.888%, around the U.S. average of 0.888%. It's an attorney-involved closing state. What buying here costs, and the steps to get the keys.
What's different about buying in District of Columbia
- Property tax (0.888%)
- Close to the national norm
- Who closes
- An attorney is involved in parts of the closing
- Transfer tax
- A transfer tax of about 1.1%, customarily buyer-paid
Property taxes in District of Columbia
District of Columbia's effective property-tax rate is about 0.888%of a home's value per year, about the same as the U.S. average of 0.888%. On a $500,000 home that's roughly $4,440 a year.
~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.
Closing costs in District of Columbia
District of Columbia involves an attorney at closing, and District of Columbia levies a real-estate 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. On a $400,000 home, estimated closing costs run about $12,842–$16,942 on top of your down payment.
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. The estimate is illustrative — a $400,000 single-family home, conventional loan, 10% down, good credit. 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.
First-time buyer programs in District of Columbia
District of Columbia runs a housing finance agency with first-time-buyer help: down-payment assistance, below-market first mortgages, and mortgage tax credits.
How much house can you afford in District of Columbia?
At 0.888%, District of Columbia's property tax lands in the monthly payment lenders measure against your income — so it moves the price you qualify for, not just your annual bill. Enter your numbers once:
The steps to buy a home in District of Columbia
The process is the same everywhere; what changes in District of Columbia is the three lines at the top of this page. Start here:
See your real numbers for District of Columbia
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