What Is the Cost of Selling a House in Virginia?

Published on May 27th, 2025
11 min read

Alexandra Lee Associate Editor
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Alexandra Lee Associate Editor

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Alexandra is an associate editor of HomeLight.com. Previously, she served as a writer and social media manager at Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, in addition to interning at the nonprofit honors society Phi Beta Kappa. Alexandra holds a bachelor's degree in communication and global studies from UC Santa Barbara, and she has three years of experience reporting on topics including international travel, luxury properties, celebrity interviews, fine dining, and more.

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If you’re like many residents in Virginia, your home is probably your most significant financial asset. Choosing to sell it is a major decision. Whether you’re moving to another state, relocating to the suburbs, or simply looking to downsize, you’re likely looking for a smooth, seamless selling process while maximizing your proceeds.

Understanding the costs involved in selling your Virginia home is essential for effective planning and budgeting. In this article, we’ll outline the typical expenses of the selling process and share expert insights to give you a clearer picture of what you can expect.

Housing trends in Virginia

Similar to nationwide trends, the Virginia housing market is facing high interest rates and rising home prices.

“The housing market in Virginia is very strong. We are starting to see more inventory than we have had in the past several years, which is starting to give buyers a few more options than they have been used to. With that being said, it is still a seller’s market and our ‘premium’ properties are selling quickly and with multiple offers,” says Amy Cherry Taylor, a top Virginia real estate agent who works with 75% more single-family homes than the average agent in her market.

Here’s a snapshot of the current real estate conditions in Virginia:

	As of April 2025
Days on market	27 days
Median home sale price	$418,000
List price vs. sale price	99.9%
Supply of inventory	2.2 months
Population growth year over year	0.87%

Sources: Virginia Realtors, Redfin, World Population Review

As a seller in Virginia, one important data point to consider is the days on market (DOM), which indicates the average time from listing your home to securing a signed purchase agreement. Currently, the median days on market in Virginia is 27 days.

Start with a home value estimate

When estimating the cost of selling your house in Virginia, a great place to start is to get an accurate home value estimate. Given the near-constant changes in home values and market trends, it’s always a good idea to assess what your home is worth. You might be pleasantly surprised by its value.

To get a quick online value estimate, you can use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. This free automated valuation model (AVM) tool utilizes current sales data, local market trends, and your home’s most recent selling price to give you a preliminary value range in less than two minutes. To begin, just enter your address.

How much does it cost to sell a house in Virginia?

The answer is, it varies. Based on our findings, the cost to sell a home in Virginia typically ranges from 6% to 10% of your final selling price.

For instance, if you sell your home for $418,000 — the median home price in Virginia — your selling costs could be approximately $25,080 to $41,800.

Whether you fall on the higher or lower end of this spectrum largely depends on how much you spend on home preparations, agent commissions, and any concessions offered to the buyer. Let’s explore the main factors to consider when calculating the cost of selling a home in Virginia.

What are common expenses for sellers in Virginia?

The cost to sell a home in Virginia can vary based on many factors, such as the state of your local market and the condition of your home.

“Generally speaking, I suggest that clients estimate about 9.5% of the total sale price as ‘worst case’ expenses. That number includes 3% buyer agent commission, 3% listing agent commission, 3% closing cost assistance to the buyer(s), and about 0.5% towards seller closing costs. Of course, those are all negotiable numbers,” says Jeff Lurie, a top Virginia real estate pro who sells homes more than 61% quicker than the average agent in his market.

The size, age, and current condition of your home can all affect the cost of preparing your property for listing. Below are estimated prices to help guide you as you plan.

Prepping your house for sale

Preparing your Virginia home for sale generally costs between 1.5% and 2.7% of your home’s final sale price. Based on the median price of a home in the state, this could range from $6,270 to $11,286.

Here’s a breakdown of potential expenses:

Pre-sale repairs: $4,500-$5,400, depending on the year your home was built and its maintenance history.
Staging the home: $1,500-$4,000 (recommended by agents for higher proceeds).
Professional cleaning services: $118-$237, depending on the size of the home.
Interior painting: $966-$3,086.
Landscaping: $1,248-$6,281.
Pre-listing inspection: $250-$500, if desired.

Before taking on any significant projects, such as a kitchen remodel or roof replacement, be sure to consult with your Realtor. An experienced Virginia agent can advise you on which specific repairs will yield the best return on your investment and which to skip when selling your home.

Realtor fees in Virginia

Agent commissions are one of the most significant costs involved in a real estate transaction. In Virginia, Realtor fees typically range from 2.5% to 6%, depending on whether you choose to cover the buyer’s agent commissions, which is no longer required following a landmark court settlement that reshaped commission rules across the country.

Based on the median home price of $418,000 in Virginia, you can expect to pay between $10,450 (2.5%) and $25,080 (6%) in real estate agent commissions.

While agent commissions may feel substantial, partnering with a skilled professional is one of the most promising ways to enhance your final net proceeds. HomeLight transaction data shows that the top 5% of agents in the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10% more than average agents.

Later in this post, we’ll demonstrate how commissions can affect your total selling costs in our overview example chart.

Try out HomeLight’s Agent Commissions Calculator to estimate potential Realtor fees in your city. Also, explore HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform to connect with a top-rated real estate agent in your Virginia market.

Seller concessions

Seller concessions can also increase the overall cost of selling your home in Virginia. Beyond the direct costs of prepping your home and Realtor fees, sometimes indirect costs can arise throughout the transaction, potentially including seller concessions and buyer incentives.

In a seller concession, the seller agrees to use a portion of their proceeds to cover some or all of a buyer’s closing costs. The total of these costs will depend on your local market and selling circumstances.

“The most common seller concession I see is a credit towards additional closing cost assistance in lieu of repairs. For the most part, I still see the seller paying commissions on both sides of the transaction,” Lurie says.

While sellers are not obligated to make concessions, doing so can help your home stand out, generate buyer interest, and even facilitate closing a deal. Here’s a quick overview of some seller concession examples that could increase the cost of selling your Virginia home:

Home inspection fees: $296-$424, depending on square footage.
Buyer’s home warranty: $350-$900 (more comprehensive plans can cost $1,200-$1,400).
Repair credit: Seller credits vary and can reduce your net proceeds.

Closing costs and additional fees

Your closing costs and additional fees (excluding agent commissions) will likely range from 2% to 4% of your home’s selling price. Using Virginia’s median home price of $418,000, this would amount to between $8,360 and $16,720.

“In Virginia, there is a grantor’s tax that you will be charged at closing for the sale of your home. This fee is $1 per every $1,000.00 of the sale’s price value. There is also a Regional Congestion Relief Tax if you are located in one of the Northern Virginia localities, and that fee is $2 per $1,000.00 of the sales price,” says Cherry Taylor.

So, what kinds of closing costs do sellers in Virginia generally incur? Here are examples of the line items you’ll find on your final settlement statement:

Escrow fee
Title insurance premiums
Title search fees
Tax liens or other judgments
Homeowner’s association dues
Reconveyance fee and recording fees
Prorated property taxes
Mortgage loan payoff amount (U.S. average: approximately $250,000)
Real estate transfer tax

Virginia’s transfer tax: Not all states charge a real estate transfer tax, but in Virginia, sellers should expect to pay $0.25 per every $100 of the transaction value. In addition, any city or county in Virginia can charge a local recordation tax that equals 1/3 of the state recordation tax, or $0.083 per $100.

At-a-glance home selling cost example for Virginia

This at-a-glance analysis is based on the median home price of $418,000 in Virginia. For simplicity, this table does not include a mortgage payoff amount. These figures can serve as a helpful planning tool as you prepare to sell your property.

Selling expense	Example costs*	% of home sale price
Prepping your home for sale	$8,360	2%
Realtor fees (commissions)	$12,540	3% (listing agent only)
Concessions, closing costs, taxes, fees	$12,540	3%
Transfer tax	$1,045	0.25%
Total selling cost example	$34,485	8.25%

*General estimates based on Virginia’s median home price of $418,000

If you choose to pay the buyer’s agent fee, add an estimated 2.5% or $10,450.

How much profit do you stand to make? To gain a clearer understanding of your potential earnings after expenses, try HomeLight’s Net Proceeds Calculator. This free tool considers all the selling costs discussed in this post, including your mortgage payoff amount.

Relocation expenses

One often-overlooked expense is the cost of relocating. Moving expenses vary based on your destination and whether you hire movers to pack your belongings.

“The cost of hiring movers is an expense that many sellers are surprised by. I recommend getting more than one estimate and starting to research early so you know what to expect,” Cherry Taylor says.

Here’s a general idea of moving costs after selling your home:

Typical cost to move: $883-$2,568
Typical cost to move out of state: $3,000-$9,500

How can I reduce my seller costs in Virginia?

There are many strategies you can use to lower the cost of selling a house in Virginia, some more impactful than others. Here are some ways to reduce seller costs:

Handle repairs yourself when possible
Negotiate a lower commission with your real estate agent
Use a discount-commission agent or brokerage
List your home for sale by owner (FSBO)
Avoid offering seller concessions or buyer incentives
If you agree to cover closing costs or provide a repair credit, consider raising your home’s sale price
Resist the temptation to over-improve or make unnecessary repairs when selling
Sell your house off-market
Time your sale using HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator
Work with a top-performing agent with a proven sale-to-list ratio

While a discount agent or broker may offer lower-cost services, they often lack the experience needed to successfully close the sale, potentially costing you more money in the long run.

“You need to understand what services you will be receiving and which services you will be missing out on. With more inventory hitting the market than in years past, it is extremely important to get as much exposure as possible and have a very good negotiator on your side,” Cherry Taylor says.

Helpful tools for your next home purchase

As you gear up to purchase your next property, explore these HomeLight tools and our innovative Buy Before You Sell program:

Partner and plan with a top Virginia agent

An important first step in determining the cost of selling a house in Virginia is to obtain a home value estimate. From there, you can devise a plan to maximize your profits.

HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform can connect you with a top real estate agent in your Virginia market who can help sell your property for above asking price. Typically, the cost to sell a house in Virginia is 6% to 10% or more of your home’s final sale price.

“Hire an agent who shows you they have a drive to work for you. Don’t be fooled by the pre-printed presentations and online certifications next to their name. Ask to speak to their previous clients, read their Google reviews, and educate yourself on the trends in your market,” Lurie advises.

HomeLight’s Agent Match can connect you with the highest-performing agents in your Virginia market who can help you make the most of your home sale.

Header Image Source: (imphot / Deposit Photos)

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At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.

Alexandra Lee

Associate Editor

Alexandra is an associate editor of HomeLight.com. Previously, she served as a writer and social media manager at Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, in addition to interning at the nonprofit honors society Phi Beta Kappa. Alexandra holds a bachelor's degree in communication and global studies from UC Santa Barbara, and she has three years of experience reporting on topics including international travel, luxury properties, celebrity interviews, fine dining, and more.