Selling a house in Virginia: local answers.

Virginia's grantor tax is a flat $0.50 per $500 of sale price (0.1%), paid by the seller statewide under Code of Virginia §58.1-802, with an added 0.15% regional 'congestion relief' grantor tax in Northern Virginia under §58.1-802.2. A separate recordation tax applies mostly on the buyer/grantee side.

By statute, the seller pays the grantor tax, while the buyer typically covers the recordation tax on the deed and deed of trust, plus their own loan and title costs. Beyond those statutory taxes, other closing costs are negotiable between buyer and seller.

A financed retail sale commonly takes 30-45 days to close once under contract, plus time to find a buyer. An as-is cash sale can close in as little as 1-3 weeks, or on a seller-chosen date, since there's no financing contingency.

The Circuit Court Clerk's probate office in the county or city where the deceased lived qualifies the executor or administrator, who then needs that qualification before signing a valid sale contract for the estate. Simple, uncontested estates typically move faster than contested ones.

Most Virginia foreclosures are non-judicial, using the power-of-sale clause in the deed of trust rather than going through court. State law only requires written notice at least 14 days before the sale itself (Va. Code §55.1-321), which is why Virginia homeowners need to act within days of a default notice, not weeks.

Landlords must file an unlawful detainer action in General District Court — self-help eviction is not allowed. Many Virginia rentals also fall under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), which sets specific notice and procedural requirements that must be followed before and during the court process.

Yes, for homes built before 1978. Federal law (the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act) requires disclosure of known lead-based paint hazards and an EPA pamphlet for buyers, and this applies in Virginia the same as everywhere else in the country.

Virginia is largely a 'buyer beware' (caveat emptor) state for residential sales. Most sellers provide a Residential Property Disclosure Statement disclaiming affirmative representations about the property's condition, rather than a detailed disclosure of specific defects as in some other states. Even so, sellers cannot actively conceal a known material defect.

Most cash buyers start from the home's estimated after-repair value, then subtract repair costs, holding costs, closing costs, and their margin. Ask for the math in writing so you can weigh it against what a retail listing might realistically net.

Watch for unlicensed operators doing repeat contract assignments without proper disclosure (Virginia restricts repeat unlicensed wholesaling), anyone requesting an upfront fee, and pressure to sign quickly without time to review the contract. A legitimate buyer explains their role and the contract terms in writing.

Yes. Virginia's Property Owners' Association Act allows associations to place liens for delinquent assessments and fees, and unresolved liens can lead to enforcement action. Any outstanding lien is typically paid off from sale proceeds at closing.

Judicial foreclosure is possible in Virginia but uncommon, since most deeds of trust include a power-of-sale clause that allows the faster non-judicial process. Judicial foreclosure, when it happens, generally takes longer because it goes through the court system.

Virginia does not require an attorney at closing the way some states do; settlement agents and title companies routinely handle residential closings. An attorney is still worth involving for probate, contested title, or anything more complex than a straightforward single-owner sale.