What is different in Ohio:
- Ohio charges a real property conveyance fee: a mandatory 1 mill ($1 per $1,000 of value) statewide, plus up to 3 more mills that counties may add.
- The Ohio Department of Taxation describes it as paid by persons who make sales of real estate, generally as part of the closing.
- Ohio has one of the higher effective property tax rates, so plan your monthly payment and escrow with care.
Most closing costs are the same in every state: the lender's fees, the appraisal, title services, prepaid interest, and deposits for taxes and insurance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says closing costs typically run 2% to 5% of the price. This page covers what is specific to Ohio: its transfer and recording taxes, who owes them, and its property tax level. Every fact comes from an official page listed under Sources, and we say so where a rule depends on your contract or county.
The real property conveyance fee
The Ohio Department of Taxation describes the conveyance fee as having two parts: a statewide mandatory tax of 1 mill ($1 per $1,000 of the value of property sold or transferred) that applies in all 88 counties, and a permissive real property transfer tax that a county may add of up to 3 more mills. Its summary reports that, as of 2009, 87 of the 88 counties levied the additional tax, at rates from 1 to 3 mills. That report is dated, so ask your title company or the county auditor for the current rate.
The fee is paid by persons who make sales of real estate, and it is paid at the time of the transfer, generally as part of the closing. So the seller is responsible under the state's description. On a $350,000 sale, the state's 1 mill is $350, and with 1 to 3 county mills the total is $700 to $1,400.
Property taxes
The Tax Foundation's table, built from the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey, puts Ohio's effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing at 1.36%. That is well above the rate in North Carolina or Georgia. On a $350,000 home it is about $4,760 a year, or about $397 a month. Rates differ by county and school district, so look up the real bill for the home you want. This is a big part of your monthly payment, so include it in your mortgage calculator numbers.
Help with the down payment
Programs and income limits change often, so we do not list them here. Ohio has a state housing finance agency with programs for buyers, and other help may come from your county or city. Talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor (1-800-569-4287) or ask lenders which state programs they offer.
Example: cash to close on a $350,000 home in Ohio
The example uses a $350,000 home, $17,500 down (5%) and a $332,500 loan at 6.5%, with the same placeholder lender and title costs as our closing cost calculator, and Ohio's effective property tax rate of 1.36% for the prepaid taxes and escrow. Before any of the state taxes in the table below, the closing costs come to $11,250 (3.2% of the price) and the cash to close is $28,750. The rows below show what the state's taxes could add.
| If the buyer pays | Extra | Closing costs | Cash to close |
|---|---|---|---|
| As the state describes it: seller pays the conveyance fee Paid by the person who makes the sale | $0 | $11,250 | $28,750 |
| Your contract makes you pay the conveyance fee (state 1 mill plus 1 to 3 county mills) Depends on your county's rate | $700 to $1,400 | $11,950 to $12,650 | $29,450 to $30,150 |
These are illustrations, not quotes. Your lender, your title company and your county set the real amounts, and your Loan Estimate is the document to trust. Open this example in the closing cost calculator and change the numbers to match your offer. Add any state tax you will pay in its "Other" box. See how to read a Loan Estimate to check each line.
Questions to ask before you close in Ohio
- Who pays the transfer or recording taxes under our contract, and what is the total including any county or local amount?
- Which of these taxes will appear on my Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, and in which section?
- What is the actual property tax bill for this home, and how will taxes be escrowed?
- Is any first-time buyer or down payment program available for this home and my income?
Keep going with the first-time home buyer guide, compare lender offers with the loan offer comparison calculator, and see the other state guides.
Sources
- Ohio Department of Taxation: Real Property Conveyance Fee (taxpayer brief, uses 2009 data)
- Tax Foundation: Property Taxes by State and County, 2026 (Census Bureau American Community Survey data)
- CFPB: Figure out how much you want to spend (typical closing costs of 2% to 5%)
Tax rules and rates change, and counties and cities can add their own, so confirm the amounts for your purchase with your lender, title company or attorney. Last reviewed September 2026. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Found something out of date? Tell us.