Closing costs by state
Closing costs in West Virginia
Closing costs in West Virginia run about 2% to 5% of the price for a buyer, made of lender fees, title and settlement, recording, prepaid interest and escrow reserves; on a $400,000 home the worked example below comes to $10,055. West Virginia charges a state transfer tax of $1.10 per $500 of value (state excise tax on the privilege of transferring real estate, W. Va. Code § 11-22-2), about 0.22% of the price, and the seller customarily pays it. Every county adds its own excise tax of at least $0.55 per $500, which counties may raise to $1.10 or, since 2017, $1.65 per $500. Most charge $1.10, so the usual combined rate is $2.20 per $500 (0.44%).
Last verified ·Sources:code.wvlegislature.gov·code.wvlegislature.gov
The rules
What West Virginia does differently
- State transfer tax
- $1.10 per $500 of value (state excise tax on the privilege of transferring real estate, W. Va. Code § 11-22-2) (about 0.22% of the price at $400,000).
- Who pays it
- Seller, by custom.
- County and city add-ons
- Every county adds its own excise tax of at least $0.55 per $500, which counties may raise to $1.10 or, since 2017, $1.65 per $500. Most charge $1.10, so the usual combined rate is $2.20 per $500 (0.44%).
- Attorney at closing
- West Virginia requires an attorney to conduct or supervise the closing, so an attorney fee is a normal line on both sides.
- Owner’s title policy
- Who pays the owner’s title policy in West Virginia varies by county or region; it is set by local custom and the contract.
- Notes
- The statute puts the tax on the grantor: $880 state plus typically $880 county on a $400,000 sale. A licensed attorney examines title and conducts the closing under State Bar Committee Opinion 2003-01.
- code.wvlegislature.gov — “an excise tax upon the privilege of transferring title to real estate at the rate of $1.10 for each $500 value or fraction thereof”
- code.wvlegislature.gov — “the tax shall be paid by the grantor therein unless the grantee accepts the document without such tax having been paid”
Worked example
A $400,000 home in West Virginia, 20% down
Loan of $320,000 at 6.5%, closing on the 15th. Lender, title and recording figures are typical line items used for illustration, the same on every state page; the transfer tax follow West Virginia’s rules above. Not a quote: the calculator takes your own figures.
Buyer pays
| Loan origination, 1% of the loan | $3,200 |
| Appraisal | $550 |
| Title and settlement services | $1,800 |
| Lender’s title policy | $900 |
| Recording | $150 |
| Prepaid interest, 15 days at 6.5% | $855 |
| Escrow reserve, 3 months of tax at 1.1% | $1,100 |
| First year of homeowners insurance | $1,500 |
| Total (2.514% of price) | $10,055 |
Seller pays
| Commission, 5% | $20,000 |
| Title and escrow fees | $2,000 |
| Owner’s title policy (estimate) | $1,500 |
| Prorated property tax | $1,500 |
| Transfer tax, seller’s share (0.22%) | $880 |
| Total | $25,880 |
Questions
What people ask about West Virginia
- Who pays the transfer tax in West Virginia?
- West Virginia charges a state transfer tax of $1.10 per $500 of value (state excise tax on the privilege of transferring real estate, W. Va. Code § 11-22-2), about 0.22% of the price, and the seller customarily pays it. Every county adds its own excise tax of at least $0.55 per $500, which counties may raise to $1.10 or, since 2017, $1.65 per $500. Most charge $1.10, so the usual combined rate is $2.20 per $500 (0.44%).
- Do you need an attorney to close on a house in West Virginia?
- West Virginia requires an attorney to conduct or supervise the closing, so an attorney fee is a normal line on both sides.
- Who pays for the owner’s title policy in West Virginia?
- Who pays the owner’s title policy in West Virginia varies by county or region; it is set by local custom and the contract.
- How much are seller closing costs in West Virginia?
- On a $400,000 sale with a 5% commission, the worked example on this page comes to $25,880 for the seller, including $880 of transfer tax, before the mortgage payoff and any concessions or repairs. The seller net sheet calculator shows the walk-away figure.
Last reviewed September 8, 2026 by the EstatePass editorial team. Formulas and program limits are checked against the published rules; figures on this page are arithmetic, not market statistics.
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