District of Columbia, District of Columbia: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in District of Columbia is worth $724,600, property taxes on it run about $4,180 a year (0.58%), the FHA loan limit is $1,249,125, and closing on it means about $21,014 in transfer tax plus $3,813 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $724,600 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $4,180 a year, 0.58% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $1,249,125 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $1,249,125 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $21,014 (incl. District of Columbia) | District of Columbia transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $3,713 owner's + $100 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $201 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $25,028 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $166,100; low-income limit $106,800 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in District of Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in District of Columbia is valued at $724,600, 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 District of Columbia?
The median District of Columbia homeowner pays $4,180 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.58% of the median home value ($4,311 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in District of Columbia?
$1,249,125 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $1,249,125, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in District of Columbia?
On the $724,600 median home: transfer tax $21,014, title insurance $3,813 for both policies, recording fees about $201, about $25,028 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in District of Columbia?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for District of Columbia (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area) is $166,100. A family of four counts as low income below $106,800 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.
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.
Every District of Columbia county → District of Columbia closing costs →
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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