Property tax, transfer tax and closing costs in North Carolina

North Carolina: Excise tax on conveyances of $1 per $500 of consideration or fraction thereof. Seller pays by statute. County reappraisal at least every eight years, with many counties on four-year cycles.

Reviewed October 15, 2026. Every line links its statute or official source.

What North Carolina sets

Transfer tax: Excise tax on conveyances of $1 per $500 of consideration or fraction thereof. Source: ncleg.gov
Who customarily pays: Seller pays by statute. Source: ncleg.gov
Local transfer taxes: Seven counties levy a 1% land transfer tax: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Pasquotank, Perquimans and Washington. Source: ncleg.gov
Reassessment cycle: County reappraisal at least every eight years, with many counties on four-year cycles. Source: ncdor.gov
Homestead and other exemptions: Elderly or disabled homestead exclusion of the greater of $25,000 or 50% of appraised value, income limited. No general homestead exemption. Source: ncdor.gov
Owner’s title policy: Buyer customarily pays for the owner’s title policy. Source: ncdoi.gov
How closings run: Attorney closings are required. Source: ncbar.gov
Survey: Not stated. No official source confirmed this yet.
Other closing customs: Not stated. No official source confirmed this yet.

North Carolina transfer tax on a $289,000 sale

State excise tax on conveyancesseller pays$578$289,000 ÷ $500 = 578 units (rounded up for any fraction) × $1 = $578

seller pays: $578
Total transfer tax: $578

Statutory transfer taxes on a $289,000 sale, as of the reviewed date. Who pays is custom and contract outside the statute’s primary liability. Local taxes described above are not in this figure unless listed as a line. Recording fees, title and attorney charges are separate.

Open the North Carolina transfer tax calculator, with a link to share and an embed for your site.

Typical property tax in North Carolina

Median real-estate tax paid: $1,896 a year
Per month: $158
Median owner-occupied home value: $288,900
Effective rate they imply: 0.66%

Census American Community Survey five-year file, 2020-2024, tables B25103 and B25077, owner-occupied homes. The median bill rose 30% against the 2015-2019 file. An estimate for a typical home, not yours. Your bill depends on the parcel, its exemptions and the next reassessment.

For agents

Your buyers ask what closing costs in North Carolina and who pays. This page answers from the statute, with the date it was checked. Send it, or embed the calculator on your own site.

Ike lets a licensed real estate agent originate the mortgage on the deals they already close. Expected compensation is about 100 basis points per eligible funded loan once licensed and sponsored. Ike is preparing licenses state by state.

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One email when North Carolina rates, exemptions or transfer taxes change, and when the next reassessment lands.

Sources

Ike Mortgage LLC. NMLS ID pending. For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Nothing on this page is a loan payment, rate, term or down payment, and nothing here is a Loan Estimate.