Oregon's constitution bars real estate transfer taxes statewide — but Washington County is the sole grandfathered exception, charging $1 per $1,000 of price. This calculator models that exception using the county's own published rate.
Transfer tax and deed-recording fee only — excludes title insurance, escrow, lender fees, and mortgage-recording fees.
| Washington County transfer tax ($400,000 ÷ $1,000 × $1) | $400.00 |
| Washington County first-page recording fee | $86.00 |
| Total included amount | $486.00 |
This is a tax-module example, not a complete settlement statement — title, escrow, lender, and mortgage-recording charges are not included. The recording fee increased to $86.00 effective August 1, 2025.
Oregon Constitution art. IX, §15 generally prohibits the state and every local government from imposing a tax, fee, or assessment upon the transfer of real property or measured by consideration. But the provision preserves qualifying previously operative charges, and ORS 306.815 grandfathers in exactly one: Washington County's transfer tax, which predates the constitutional ban. No other Oregon county or city is permitted to impose an equivalent tax.
Washington County's Recording Division charges $1.00 per $1,000 of the selling price (0.1%) when a sale exceeds $13,999. Payment, or a filed exemption, is due within 15 days of recording. Liability for the tax attaches to both purchaser and seller. This calculator only applies the tax when Washington County is selected — every other Oregon county is barred from charging an equivalent under the constitutional prohibition above.
Closing costs are the fees and charges required to finalize a real estate purchase, separate from your down payment and the home's purchase price. Beyond the Oregon transfer tax and recording fee calculated above, a typical closing includes a handful of other charges: a loan origination fee charged by your lender, an appraisal fee to confirm the home's value, a home inspection fee, a title search and title insurance premium (a lender's policy is required by most lenders, and an owner's policy is optional but recommended), an escrow or settlement agent fee, and prepaid items such as homeowners insurance and the property tax and mortgage interest your lender collects upfront into escrow. Which of these apply, and how much each one costs, depends on your lender, your loan program, and the title or escrow company handling your closing — this calculator covers only the government-charged transfer tax and recording fee shown above, not the full closing cost picture.
Several factors shape how much you'll actually pay at closing on a Oregon property, beyond the transfer tax and recording fee shown above. Loan type matters: FHA loans add an upfront mortgage insurance premium, VA loans add a funding fee (waived for some veterans and service members), and USDA loans add a guarantee fee, while conventional loans typically don't carry a comparable upfront charge. Property type matters too — condos and homes in planned communities often require an extra fee for HOA document review or a resale certificate, and multi-unit or investment properties can carry higher title insurance premiums than a standard single-family purchase. County and municipality matter as well: recording fees, and in some states local transfer taxes, can vary from county to county, so the figures on this page reflect the Oregon statutory default — always confirm with the specific county recorder's or clerk's office where you're closing. Finally, purchase price and loan amount drive costs that scale with value, including title insurance premiums, percentage-based origination fees, and the transfer tax calculated above.