Transfer Tax & Closing Costs in Oregon

Transfer Tax

Oregon has no general state or county real estate transfer tax. State law (ORS 306.815) prohibits cities, counties, and other political subdivisions from imposing a tax or fee on real property transfers. The sole exception, grandfathered in because it predates the March 31, 1997 cutoff, is Washington County, which charges a real property transfer tax of $1.00 per $1,000 of the sale price (0.1% of sale price). All other Oregon counties (Multnomah, Clackamas, Lane, Deschutes, etc.) have zero transfer tax. Certain transfers (gift, devise, inheritance, divorce, foreclosure) are exempt even in Washington County, with exemption filing required within 15 days of recording or a late penalty applies.

Typical Closing Costs

Buyers: roughly 2-3% of the purchase price (one source citing ~2.83% against Oregon's ~$479,100 median sale price, about $14,500). Sellers: roughly 8-10% of the sale price, driven mainly by real estate commissions (total commission averages about 5.5% of sale price, split roughly 2.7% listing agent / 2.8% buyer's agent) plus title insurance, recording fees, and (in Washington County only) transfer tax.

Who typically pays: Sellers customarily pay: both the listing agent's and buyer's agent's commissions (standard local practice, though technically the buyer's agent is paid via the transaction), the owner's title insurance policy, recording fees, and any Washington County transfer tax (often split or negotiated between buyer/seller, but statute makes the seller the remitter with buyer/seller split determined by contract). Buyers customarily pay: loan origination and other lender fees, appraisal and inspection costs, the lender's title insurance policy, prepaid escrow/insurance items, and mortgage-related recording costs.