Wake County, North Carolina: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Wake County is worth $422,800, property taxes on it run about $3,023 a year (0.71%), the FHA loan limit is $541,287, and closing on it means about $846 in transfer tax plus $1,008 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $422,800 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $3,023 a year, 0.71% 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 | $846 | North Carolina transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $979 owner's + $29 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $90 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $1,944 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $132,300; low-income limit $105,850 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Wake County?
The median owner-occupied home in Wake County is valued at $422,800, 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 Wake County?
The median Wake County homeowner pays $3,023 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.71% of the median home value ($3,038 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Wake 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 Wake County?
On the $422,800 median home: transfer tax $846, title insurance $1,008 for both policies, recording fees about $90, about $1,944 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Wake County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Wake County (Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA) is $132,300. A family of four counts as low income below $105,850 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 North Carolina counties
- Tyrrell County $138,400
- Union County $374,400
- Vance County $146,300
- Warren County $124,700
- Washington County $107,000
- Watauga County $321,500
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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