RoomTour

How to sell your house by owner in Virginia

For sale by owner (FSBO) in Virginia, without a realtor · rules checked · sources

Attorney at closing
Customary, not required
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
0.1%

No law makes you hire an attorney in Virginia, but most closings there use one. Virginia sellers must give buyers the Residential Property Disclosure Statement (Real Estate Board form) (Va. Code 55.1-700 et seq.). Virginia's state transfer tax is 0.1%, about $400 on a $400,000 sale, usually split between buyer and seller.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and counties add their own; check with a Virginia real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Virginia transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (0.1%)
$400
Commission you don't pay (5–6%)
$20,000–$24,000
Saved if you still pay the buyer's agent (2.5–3%)
$10,000–$12,000

Example for a $400,000 sale. Uses the base state rate of 0.1%. Full rule: Grantor's tax $0.50 per $500 (0.1%) paid by seller; separate state recordation tax about $0.25 per $100 (0.25%) plus local recordation tax paid by buyer. State tax only; county or city taxes may add to it. Commissions are negotiable and vary; these are typical ranges, not quotes.

Steps to sell a house without a realtor in Virginia

  1. Price it from sold homes, not asking prices. Pull recent sales of similar homes nearby from the county records or the "sold" filter on the big portals, or pay a licensed appraiser for a pre-listing appraisal.
  2. Fill in the Residential Property Disclosure Statement (Real Estate Board form) now. Virginia requires it (Va. Code 55.1-700 et seq.); buyers should get it before they sign. Get the official form.
  3. Make a listing buyers can judge from home. Bright photos of every room, an honest description, a floor plan and a 360° virtual tour filter out people who were never going to buy, so fewer, better showings.
  4. List it where buyers look. A flat-fee MLS listing (a broker puts you on the MLS for a fixed fee) gets you onto Zillow, Realtor.com and Redfin; add FSBO sites, social media and a yard sign with a QR code to the tour.
  5. Show it, then get offers in writing. Ask for a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds before a showing, and decide up front whether you'll pay a buyer's agent. Accept with a written purchase agreement; the earnest money goes to the title company or attorney, not to you.
  6. Pick who closes. Depending on the part of Virginia, a title company or an attorney runs the closing; ask a local title company what's usual in your county. Most sellers in Virginia still have an attorney review the contract.
  7. Close. You sign a general warranty deed, the title company or attorney pays off your mortgage and records the deed with the county. The state transfer tax is paid when the deed is recorded and is usually split between buyer and seller.

Virginia seller disclosure

Virginia requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Residential Property Disclosure Statement (Real Estate Board form) (Va. Code 55.1-700 et seq.). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

Seller of 1-4 unit residential property must furnish the Real Estate Board form, which states the owner makes no warranties about condition. Buyers are told to inspect for themselves.

Residential Property Disclosure Statement (Real Estate Board form) (official source)

Whatever the state rule, a home built before 1978 needs the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet, and the buyer gets 10 days to test unless they waive it.

Virginia transfer tax

Virginia charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 0.1% of the price, $400 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: Grantor's tax $0.50 per $500 (0.1%) paid by seller; separate state recordation tax about $0.25 per $100 (0.25%) plus local recordation tax paid by buyer. By custom it's usually split between buyer and seller, but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: Locality may add a recordation tax equal to one-third of the state amount; Northern Virginia has an additional regional fee under 58.1-802.3 (verify).

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Virginia

Sellers in Virginia usually convey with a general warranty deed. The title company, escrow officer or attorney prepares it with the other closing documents.

Also expect:

  • Disclosure form includes notices on mineral rights and covenants

Settlements are done by attorneys or licensed title companies (settlement agents), not by the owner alone. Recordation tax and grantor's tax are separate lines, so cost estimates need both.

The rest of the work is marketing: a clear listing, honest photos and a virtual tour. Tips in how to write a property listing and how to make a virtual tour with your phone.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a house without a realtor in Virginia?

Yes. No state requires a real estate agent to sell your own home. No law makes you hire an attorney in Virginia, but most closings there use one. The steps are on this page.

Do I need a lawyer to sell my house in Virginia?

Not by law. No law makes you hire an attorney in Virginia, but most closings there use one. Paying one to review the purchase contract is cheap insurance.

Are seller's disclosures required in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia sellers must give buyers the Residential Property Disclosure Statement (Real Estate Board form) (Va. Code 55.1-700 et seq.). Seller of 1-4 unit residential property must furnish the Real Estate Board form, which states the owner makes no warranties about condition. Buyers are told to inspect for themselves. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Virginia?

Virginia's state transfer tax is 0.1%, about $400 on a $400,000 sale, usually split between buyer and seller. Locality may add a recordation tax equal to one-third of the state amount; Northern Virginia has an additional regional fee under 58.1-802.3 (verify). Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Virginia?

In Virginia it's usually split between buyer and seller. Custom isn't law: the purchase contract can say who pays.

What paperwork do I need to sell my house without a realtor in Virginia?

Usually the Residential Property Disclosure Statement (Real Estate Board form); a written purchase agreement; a general warranty deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Disclosure form includes notices on mineral rights and covenants. The title company or attorney prepares the closing documents and records the deed.

How much do you save selling a house without a realtor in Virginia?

On a $400,000 sale, a 5–6% commission is $20,000–$24,000. If you still pay the buyer's agent, you save the listing side, about $10,000–$12,000. The $400 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and counties add their own; check with a Virginia real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Compare all states: attorney rules, disclosure and transfer tax →