Title Company in Fairfax, VA
Will Rapuano and the Pruitt Title team handle title insurance and settlement for home purchases, sales and refinances in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. Will's office is nearby in Vienna.
What title and taxes cost on a $600,000 Fairfax purchase
The example below assumes a $600,000 price and a $480,000 loan. Title premiums are Pruitt Title's rates (a First American Eagle owner's policy), before discounts. Virginia insurers file their own rates and can negotiate them (Va. Code § 38.2-4608), so your quote can differ. Settlement fees and the clerk's recording charges are not included.
| Item | Amount | Usually paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's title insurance, Eagle policy | $2,968 | Buyer, by custom |
| Lender's title insurance, issued with the owner's policy | $200 | Buyer |
| Virginia recordation tax on the deed ($0.25 per $100) | $1,500 | Buyer |
| Virginia recordation tax on the deed of trust ($0.25 per $100) | $1,200 | Buyer |
| Fairfax County recordation tax on both (about $0.083 per $100) | $896.40 | Buyer |
| Virginia grantor tax ($0.50 per $500) | $600 | Seller |
| Northern Virginia transportation fees ($0.20 per $100) | $1,200 | Seller |
Who pays what is the local custom, and the purchase contract can change it. The recordation taxes are set by Va. Code §§ 58.1-801 and 58.1-814, the grantor tax by § 58.1-802, and the transportation fees by §§ 58.1-802.3 and 58.1-802.4. A refinance doesn't carry the grantor tax or the transportation fees.
Virginia Closing Cost Calculator
Sale Price
$500,000
Loan Amount
$400,000
Buyer
$17,610
Seller
$14,570
VA grantor tax: $0.50/$500 on the seller. In Northern Virginia the seller also owes two regional fees at $0.10/$100 each — $0.20/$100 combined — on a purchase; neither applies to a refinance. Buyers pay $0.25/$100 state recordation tax on the deed and on the purchase loan, plus a local third (about $0.083/$100) on both where the locality levies it, as Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William and Alexandria do.
Title insurance uses Pruitt Title's rates: a First American Eagle owner's policy and the lender's policy issued with it, before reissue or other discounts.
Buyer Closing Costs
Tax rates verified as of June 2026. Rates are subject to change; confirm with the applicable circuit court clerk for the most current rates.
Seller Closing Costs
Tax rates verified as of June 2026. Rates are subject to change; confirm with the applicable circuit court clerk for the most current rates.
Ready for a Precise Quote?
This is an estimate, not a quote. Will Rapuano can give you an actual quote from Pruitt Title for your transaction.
The buyer chooses the title company in Virginia
Virginia law gives the buyer the right to pick the settlement agent, and a seller can't make a particular company a condition of the sale (Va. Code § 55.1-1006). On a financed purchase, federal law also bars a seller from requiring a particular title insurer (RESPA section 9). To close with Pruitt Title, name Pruitt Title as the settlement agent when you sign the contract and tell your lender the same day.
How a Fairfax closing works with Pruitt Title
- Send Will the ratified contract. Pruitt Title opens the file, orders the title search and contacts your lender for its closing instructions.
- Review the title commitment. It lists what has to be paid off or cleared before closing and what the policy won't cover. How to read one.
- Confirm wiring instructions by phone. Call Pruitt Title at a number you already know before you send closing funds. Emailed changes to wiring instructions are a common fraud.
- Sign and record. After signing, Pruitt Title pays off the existing loans, records the deed with the Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk and issues the title policies.
Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax are separate
A Fairfax mailing address can mean Fairfax County or the City of Fairfax, an independent city surrounded by the county. The deed records at the same place either way: the Fairfax Circuit Court's Land Records Division, at the county courthouse on Chain Bridge Road, takes documents for both.
The taxes differ. City of Fairfax homeowners pay City of Fairfax real estate tax instead of the county's, and the settlement statement prorates whichever bill applies. The cost example above uses Fairfax County rates. For a City of Fairfax property, the city can add a local recordation tax of one-third of the state tax only if it levies one, so ask Will or the Circuit Court Clerk to confirm.
Investor or pre-purchase title search
Buying at auction, off-market or as an investor, and want the title searched before you commit? See the Fairfax title search guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is title insurance in Fairfax, VA?
It depends on the price, the loan and the insurer. At Pruitt Title's rates (a First American Eagle owner's policy, before discounts), the owner's policy on a $600,000 home is $2,968 and the lender's policy issued with it is $200. Virginia insurers can negotiate their rates, so compare quotes.
Who pays transfer taxes in Fairfax?
By custom the seller pays the Virginia grantor tax ($0.50 per $500 of the price) and the Northern Virginia transportation fees ($0.20 per $100). The buyer pays the state and local recordation taxes on the deed and the loan. The contract can change that.
Do I need owner's title insurance in Fairfax?
Your lender requires a lender's policy, which protects only the loan. The owner's policy is optional. It protects you and your heirs for as long as you own the home, for a one-time premium at closing.
Can I use a different title company than the one the seller suggests?
Yes. In Virginia the buyer chooses the settlement agent, and a seller can't require a particular company as a condition of the sale (Va. Code § 55.1-1006).
Can I schedule a weekend closing in Fairfax?
Signing options depend on the lender, the documents and the transaction. Ask Will which office, evening, weekend, mobile or remote options work for your closing.
Get a Fairfax title quote
Send Will the property details for a quote or a title question. Sending a request doesn't open an order; Will confirms next steps with you.