City of Virginia Beach (independent city)
House flipping in Virginia Beach, VA: transfer taxes, property tax and a flip calculator
Every flip in Virginia Beach pays deed and transfer taxes twice: once when you buy and once when you sell. In City of Virginia Beach (independent city) they add up to about 0.493% 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
$46,942
15.6% margin on ARV over 6 months
Cash needed
$43,258
Return on cash
109%
Max offer
$170,000
$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
- $4,314
- Loan points and fees
- $5,880
- Loan interest
- $9,364
- Taxes, insurance, utilities
- $3,200
- Selling costs
- $20,800
- Total cost
- $253,058
- Break-even ARV
- $249,579
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.
Comps, rehab, refi and a verdict for a real address. Your numbers come with you.
Transfer and recording taxes in Virginia Beach
| Level | What it is |
|---|---|
| State | Virginia state grantor tax: $0.50 per $500 ($1 per $1,000, 0.1%), paid by the grantor (seller), Va. Code 58.1-802. Separately, state recordation tax on deeds: $0.25 per $100 (0.25%), Va. Code 58.1-801; customarily paid by the buyer (custom not stated in statute, verify). (source) |
| Local | Hampton Roads regional transportation improvement fee: $0.06 per $100 of consideration (Va. Code 58.1-802.5), paid by the grantor unless the parties agree otherwise; HRTAC lists Virginia Beach among the supporting jurisdictions. Plus local recordation tax of one-third of the state rate (58.1-814). Note: the Northern Virginia congestion relief fee (58.1-802.4) does NOT apply in Hampton Roads. (source) |
| On your loan | Virginia recordation tax on deeds of trust: $0.25 per $100 of the debt for loans up to $10 million (tiered lower above that), Va. Code 58.1-803; plus local recordation of one-third of the state tax (58.1-814) where the city/county imposes it. (source) |
Who pays: seller pays the grantor tax and regional fee; the buyer customarily pays recordation.
What it costs on a typical flip
- Buy at $200,000: deed and transfer taxes
- $987
- Record a $180,000 purchase loan
- $600
- Sell at $300,000: deed and transfer taxes
- $1,480
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 Virginia Beach for investors
Virginia localities must assess real estate at 100% of fair market value (Va. Code 58.1-3201); there is no statewide assessment cap for investors. (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 Virginia closing cost defaults. Change the price, rehab and ARV to your deal.
Questions
How much is the transfer tax in Virginia Beach?
The cited deed and transfer taxes total about 0.493% of the price in City of Virginia Beach (independent city). On a $300,000 sale that is about $1,480. Who pays: seller pays the grantor tax and regional fee; the buyer customarily pays recordation.
Is Virginia Beach 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.
Is there a tax on the loan in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia recordation tax on deeds of trust: $0.25 per $100 of the debt for loans up to $10 million (tiered lower above that), Va. Code 58.1-803; plus local recordation of one-third of the state tax (58.1-814) where the city/county imposes it.
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.
Keep going
Guides
Glossary
Run your next deal before you write the offer.
Run The Deal is in an invite-only beta. Ask for a spot and we will email you when it opens.