Cuyahoga County

House flipping in Cleveland, OH: transfer taxes, property tax and a flip calculator

Every flip in Cleveland pays deed and transfer taxes twice: once when you buy and once when you sell. In Cuyahoga County they add up to about 0.4% of the price. Here is what each one is, who usually pays it, how property tax works for investors, and a calculator to run your deal.

Projected net profit

$47,476

15.8% margin on ARV over 6 months

Good deal

Cash needed

$42,524

Return on cash

112%

Max offer

$170,500

$30k profit, 12% margin

70% rule

$160,500

70% of ARV minus rehab with 10% contingency

Where every dollar goes

Purchase: $160,000
Rehab with contingency: $49,500
Buy closing costs: $3,501
Loan points and fees: $5,880
Loan interest: $9,364
Taxes, insurance, utilities: $3,280
Selling costs: $21,000
Total cost: $252,524
Break-even ARV: $248,976

Planning defaults: hard money 11%, 2 points, $1,500 fees, 90% of price and 100% of rehab, interest on drawn funds; 5.5% commission and 1% concessions; state closing and transfer taxes. Not a quote.

Run the full analysis

Comps, rehab, refi and a verdict for a real address. Your numbers come with you.

Transfer and recording taxes in Cleveland

Cuyahoga County, checked 2026-10-10. Rates change; confirm with the closing attorney or title company.

Level	What it is
State	Ohio mandatory state conveyance fee: $1 per $1,000 (0.1%); counties may add up to $3 per $1,000. Paid by the grantor (seller). (source)
Local	Cuyahoga County conveyance fee $4 per $1,000 (0.4%), $4 minimum, plus $0.50 transfer fee. (source)

Who pays: seller.

What it costs on a typical flip

Example | All the cited taxes, both ends of the deal

Buy at $200,000: deed and transfer taxes: $800
Sell at $300,000: deed and transfer taxes: $1,200

Total taxes in the round trip$2,000

This adds every cited rate on each side, buyer and seller, so you see the full cost of the round trip. Who actually pays each piece depends on custom and your contract. Recording fees and title insurance are extra.

Property tax in Cleveland for investors

Ohio taxes real property on 35% of true (market) value; local millage applies to that assessed value (ORC 5713.03, 5715.01). (source)

For a flip, property tax is part of carrying cost every month you own the house. For a rental, budget the bill the county will send after you buy, not the seller's bill.

Run the numbers

The calculator above uses general closing cost defaults outside Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia. For Cleveland, add the taxes above to your numbers: about $800 on the buy side and $1,200 on the sale in this example.

Questions

How much is the transfer tax in Cleveland?

The cited deed and transfer taxes total about 0.4% of the price in Cuyahoga County. On a $300,000 sale that is about $1,200. Who pays: seller.

Is Cleveland a good place to flip houses?

It depends on the deal, not the city. Buy at a price that leaves room for every cost: closing and transfer taxes on both ends, loan points and interest, carry, commission and concessions. Run the numbers on each house.

Facts checked 2026-10-10 against the linked official sources. Tax rates and fees change; confirm them with your closing attorney, title company or the locality. Not legal, tax or lending advice.

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