Shelby County, Alabama: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Shelby County is worth $298,700, property taxes on it run about $1,343 a year (0.45%), the FHA loan limit is $541,287, and closing on it means about $299 in transfer tax plus $848 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $298,700 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $1,343 a year, 0.45% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $541,287 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $299 | Alabama transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $723 owner's + $125 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $86 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $1,233 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $104,100; low-income limit $83,300 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Shelby County?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelby County is valued at $298,700, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Shelby County?
The median Shelby County homeowner pays $1,343 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.45% of the median home value ($1,358 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Shelby County?
$541,287 for a one-unit home in 2026 (the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Shelby County?
On the $298,700 median home: transfer tax $299, title insurance $848 for both policies, recording fees about $86, about $1,233 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Shelby County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Shelby County (Birmingham-Hoover, AL HUD Metro FMR Area) is $104,100. A family of four counts as low income below $83,300 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby Alabama counties
- Pike County $149,000
- Randolph County $184,000
- Russell County $152,300
- St. Clair County $218,500
- Sumter County $84,100
- Talladega County $137,900
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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