Enter a price to see DC's deed transfer tax (the seller's, 1.45% at $400,000 and up), the recordation tax (1.45%, paid by whichever party the contract names), whether the loan is jumbo, the monthly payment and the yearly property tax. On a $3 million Georgetown house the two transfer taxes come to $87,000.
How the calculator works
Transfer and recordation tax
DC charges both taxes on the full price: 1.1% each below $400,000 and 1.45% each at $400,000 and above, for 2.9% combined. The law puts the transfer tax on the seller; for recordation both parties are liable and the sales contract decides who pays, so the calculator lets you choose. The full rules are in the guide to DC transfer and recordation tax.
Co-ops
A co-op sale is taxed as a transfer of an economic interest: 2.9% at $400,000 and above. Confirm the treatment with your settlement attorney.
Jumbo check
DC's 2026 conforming limit for a one-unit home is $1,249,125. Any loan above it is jumbo, which on a typical Georgetown purchase is the norm rather than the exception.
Property tax
Houses and condo units pay $0.85 per $100 of assessed value up to $2,558,000 and $1.00 above it in tax year 2026, after the $91,950 homestead deduction for a primary residence. The DC property tax guide covers the cap, relief programs and due dates.
Example closing costs at Georgetown prices
With 20% down, a 7.28% 30-year rate (Freddie Mac, week of October 1, 2026) and the homestead deduction:
| Price | Transfer tax | Recordation tax | Combined | Monthly principal and interest | Property tax a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500,000 | $21,750 | $21,750 | $43,500 | $8,211 | $11,968 |
| $3,000,000 | $43,500 | $43,500 | $87,000 | $16,421 | $25,244 |
| $6,000,000 | $87,000 | $87,000 | $174,000 | $32,842 | $55,244 |
Selling a house in this range? The guide to selling a Georgetown home shows what a seller nets after the transfer tax and other costs.
Common questions
How much is the transfer tax in DC?
DC's deed transfer tax is 1.45% of the price at $400,000 and above, and 1.1% below that, for residential property. DC law makes the seller responsible for it. On a $3 million house it is $43,500.
Who pays the recordation tax in DC?
Recordation tax is 1.45% at $400,000 and above. By law the buyer and seller are both liable, and the purchase contract sets who pays it. The calculator lets you put it on the buyer, the seller or split it.
Is there a mortgage recording tax in DC on a purchase?
A purchase-money deed of trust recorded with the deed isn't taxed again, so a buyer's loan doesn't add a separate recordation tax line at settlement. Confirm the details for your loan with your settlement attorney.
Is this calculator advice?
No. It applies DC's published 2026 rates to the figures you enter. Lender fees, title insurance and prorated taxes vary by transaction, so confirm your totals with your settlement attorney and lender.
Sources
Reviewed by Daryl Judy
Daryl reviewed this page for accuracy on October 13, 2026. Figures come from the sources listed above. Our research process.
Daryl Judy is a luxury real estate agent in Georgetown, Washington, DC, and an Associate Broker with Washington Fine Properties: a Realtor since 2006, ranked #2 in the District by sales volume (RealTrends Verified, 2025), with more than $1.2 billion in career sales by his own count.
- $1.2B+Career sales across more than 900 transactions, as reported by Daryl
- #2DC agent by sales volume, RealTrends Verified, 2025
- $1.93MAverage sale price in 2025, RealTrends Verified
- $6.25MHighest DC sale on record, Berkley (Georgetown ZIP 20007), 2026
- RealTrends Verified: #2 in Washington, DC by sales volume, 2025 sales data ($77.19M, 40 sides)
- Washington Fine Properties: 360 sales of $1M or more on record ($670.2M), 40 of them in Georgetown ZIP 20007
- Washingtonian: Best Real Estate Agents: 100 Best Agents, Elite Producers Platinum
Associate Broker, Washington Fine Properties, 1604 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009. Office (202) 930-6868. District of Columbia license BR 699875. General information, not legal, tax or lending advice.
More about Daryl →